THE UNITED STATES AND SAMOA 277 



charged to make investigation into the causes that led to 

 the recent riots and disturbances, as well as to the bombard- 

 ments that followed on the part of the American and English 

 war vessels, and to the various arrests and acts of violence 

 which had taken place. Finally, the commission was in- 

 structed to " consider the provisions which might be neces- 

 sary for the future government of the islands or for the 

 modification of the final act of Berlin," and report ac- 

 cordingly. 



On their arrival, the commissioners found a condition 

 of nervous excitement existing in Apia. Mataafan forces 

 surrounded the municipality ; native and white soldiers 

 patrolled the streets of the town, six men-of-war lay at 

 anchor in the harbor, and all business was suspended. Their 

 reception by the usually demonstrative natives, as well as by 

 the whites, was unexpectedly cold. This lack of cordiality 

 was owing to the fact that the natives distrusted the com- 

 petency or ability of a committee wholly ignorant of Samoan 

 customs to satisfactorily adjust their difficulties. The com- 

 mission lost no time in entering upon its double task. The 

 first step was to disarm the natives, which was successfully 

 accomplished within two weeks by promises of restoration of 

 the arms or their equivalent in money after peace had been 

 secured. After a series of meetings with the residents, 

 native and foreign, the commission reached the conclusion 

 that the decision of the chief justice was valid. "The 

 decision declaring Tanu to be king was the law of Samoa, 

 and all who refused obedience to it violated not the decision 

 alone, but the treaty upon which it was based " wrote Mr. 

 Tripp. Hence, a vindication of Admiral Kautz. 



The provisional government of Mataafa and Herr Raffel 

 which had been inaugurated by the three consuls in January, 

 having ceased to exist, the commission declared Tanu to be 

 king ; but that young man, already wearied of the uncertain 

 glories of political life, and being, moreover, ambitious to 

 adopt the career of a missionary, promptly abdicated ! Then 

 arose the question as to the advisability of abolishing the 

 kingship. The various islands were canvassed, and many 



