INSULA R A US TRALASIA . 



1271 



THK SAMOAN KING, MA 1.1 Kit >A. 



each village, at which all purely local affairs were decided. In addition to these then- 

 were meetings held by a number of such villages forming a section of the district, and 

 others again where the whole of the district united to formulate laws, or to decide as 

 to their action upon any matter, political or otherwise, which might be brought under 

 their consideration. This decision was, however, never held to be binding by any village 

 or section which might be opposed to the 

 decision of the majority. The chiefs had great 

 power, but were always afraid to exercise it if 

 opposed by any number of influential orators, 

 even in their own towns. The idea of a kin<>- 



o 



and government exercising administrative power 

 over the whole of Samoa is one of modern 

 origin. The principal districts on Upolu and 

 Savaii, the two largest islands, were Atua, 

 Tuamasauga, Aana, Manona, Safotulafai, Sa- 

 leaula (le itu o fane), Satupaitea and Palauli 

 (le itu o fafnic). 



The history of the Samoan Group has 

 been a troublous one. About the time of the 

 introduction of Christianity, Manono was the 

 ruling power. Her influence, however, was some- 

 what weakened by the war which followed the 



murder of Tamafainga, the A itu, or spirit chief. It was also weakened by the war of 

 1847-50, but she still claimed the title of the Malo. About twenty years ago, the dis- 

 trict of Tuamasanga, in which the port of Apia is situated, formulated a system of laws 

 which were to be on the model of English laws. Some of the laws were offensive to 

 the natives from other districts, who had always looked upon the Tuamasanga as a con- 

 quered people, but the great insult was a fort and a flag-staff erected near Apia, which 

 were understood by the other natives as an assumption of superiority. Wars ensued, and 

 since that there have been only short periods of settled peace. 



The Steinberger rule lasted from 1874 to 1876. In that year, Mr. G. W. Griffin 

 was appointed as United States Consul to Samoa, and it was principally owing to the 

 energetic manner in which he discharged the duties of his office that the " Taimua and 

 Faipuli " Government sent the chief, Le Mamea, as ambassador to the United States 

 Government. A draft treaty was signed towards the close of 1877, and formally read 

 and exchanged on the 3rd of July, 1878. This treaty had afterwards a most important 

 effect on Samoan affairs, as it no doubt influenced very materially the subsequent action 

 of the American Government, and their very friendly relations with the Samoan people. 

 By the provisions of this treaty, the fine harbour of Pago Pago (Pango Pango) was 

 ceded to the United States, and the Government of that country agreed to recognize 

 the independence of Samoa, and to exercise its good offices for the settlement of any 

 dispute that might arise between Samoa and any other country in amity witlv the 

 United States. After this, the position and strength of the contending parties changed 

 again and again, the districts were split up and divided, and no stable government was 



