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thing that must be done： Malietoa must be deposed。 I will do
nothing to him beyond； he will only be kept on board for a couple
of months and be well treated； just as we Germans did to the French
chief ＇Napoleon III。＇ some time ago； whom we kept a while and cared
for well。〃 Becker was no less explicit： war； he told Sewall；
should not cease till the Germans had custody of Malietoa and
Tamasese should be recognised。
Meantime； in the Malietoa provinces； a profound impression was
received。 People trooped to their fugitive sovereign in the bush。
Many natives in Apia brought their treasures； and stored them in
the houses of white friends。 The Tamasese orators were sometimes
ill received。 Over in Savaii； they found the village of Satupaitea
deserted； save for a few lads at cricket。 These they harangued；
and were rewarded with ironical applause； and the proclamation； as
soon as they had departed； was torn down。 For this offence the
village was ultimately burned by German sailors； in a very decent
and orderly style； on the 3rd September。 This was the dinner…bell
of the fono on the 15th。 The threat conveyed in the terms of the
summons … 〃If any government district does not quickly obey this
direction； I will make war on that government district〃 … was thus
commented on and reinforced。 And the meeting was in consequence
well attended by chiefs of all parties。 They found themselves
unarmed among the armed warriors of Tamasese and the marines of the
German squadron； and under the guns of five strong ships。 Brandeis
rose； it was his first open appearance； the German firm signing its
revolutionary work。 His words were few and uncompromising： 〃Great
are my thanks that the chiefs and heads of families of the whole of
Samoa are assembled here this day。 It is strictly forbidden that
any discussion should take place as to whether it is good or not
that Tamasese is king of Samoa； whether at this fono or at any
future fono。 I place for your signature the following： 'WE INFORM
ALL THE PEOPLE OF SAMOA OF WHAT FOLLOWS： （1） THE GOVERNMENT OF
SAMOA HAS BEEN ASSUMED BY KING TUIAANA TAMASESE。 （2） BY ORDER OF
THE KING； IT WAS DIRECTED THAT A FONO SHOULD TAKE PLACE TO…DAY；
COMPOSED OF THE CHIEFS AND HEADS OF FAMILIES； AND WE HAVE OBEYED
THE SUMMONS。 WE HAVE SIGNED OUR NAMES UNDER THIS； 15TH SEPTEMBER
1887。〃 Needs must under all these guns； and the paper was signed；
but not without open sullenness。 The bearing of Mataafa in
particular was long remembered against him by the Germans。 〃Do you
not see the king？〃 said the commodore reprovingly。 〃His father was
no king；〃 was the bold answer。 A bolder still has been printed；
but this is Mataafa's own recollection of the passage。 On the next
day； the chiefs were all ordered back to shake hands with Tamasese。
Again they obeyed； but again their attitude was menacing； and some；
it is said； audibly murmured as they gave their hands。
It is time to follow the poor Sheet of Paper （literal meaning of
LAUPEPA）； who was now to be blown so broadly over the face of
earth。 As soon as news reached him of the declaration of war； he
fled from Afenga to Tanunga…manono； a hamlet in the bush； about a
mile and a half behind Apia； where he lurked some days。 On the
24th； Selu； his secretary； despatched to the American consul an
anxious appeal； his majesty's 〃cry and prayer〃 in behalf of 〃this
weak people。〃 By August 30th； the Germans had word of his lurking…
place； surrounded the hamlet under cloud of night； and in the early
morning burst with a force of sailors on the houses。 The people
fled on all sides； and were fired upon。 One boy was shot in the
hand； the first blood of the war。 But the king was nowhere to be
found； he had wandered farther； over the woody mountains； the
backbone of the land； towards Siumu and Safata。 Here； in a safe
place； he built himself a town in the forest； where he received a
continual stream of visitors and messengers。 Day after day the
German blue…jackets were employed in the hopeless enterprise of
beating the forests for the fugitive； day after day they were
suffered to pass unhurt under the guns of ambushed Samoans； day
after day they returned； exhausted and disappointed； to Apia。
Seumanu Tafa； high chief of Apia； was known to be in the forest
with the king； his wife； Fatuila； was seized； imprisoned in the
German hospital； and when it was thought her spirit was
sufficiently reduced； brought up for cross…examination。 The wise
lady confined herself in answer to a single word。 〃Is your husband
near Apia？〃 〃Yes。〃 〃Is he far from Apia？〃 〃Yes。〃 〃Is he with the
king？〃 〃Yes。〃 〃Are he and the king in different places？〃 〃Yes。〃
Whereupon the witness was discharged。 About the 10th of September；
Laupepa was secretly in Apia at the American consulate with two
companions。 The German pickets were close set and visited by a
strong patrol； and on his return； his party was observed and hailed
and fired on by a sentry。 They ran away on all fours in the dark；
and so doing plumped upon another sentry； whom Laupepa grappled and
flung in a ditch； for the Sheet of Paper； although infirm of
character； is； like most Samoans； of an able body。 The second
sentry （like the first） fired after his assailants at random in the
dark； and the two shots awoke the curiosity of Apia。 On the
afternoon of the 16th； the day of the hand…shakings； Suatele； a
high chief； despatched two boys across the island with a letter。
They were most of the night upon the road； it was near three in the
morning before the sentries in the camp of Malietoa beheld their
lantern drawing near out of the wood； but the king was at once
awakened。 The news was decisive and the letter peremptory； if
Malietoa did not give himself up before ten on the morrow； he was
told that great sorrows must befall his country。 I have not been
able to draw Laupepa as a hero； but he is a man of certain virtues；
which the Germans had now given him an occasion to display。
Without hesitation he sacrificed himself； penned his touching
farewell to Samoa； and making more expedition than the messengers；
passed early behind Apia to the banks of the Vaisingano。 As he
passed； he detached a messenger to Mataafa at the Catholic mission。
Mataafa followed by the same road； and the pair met at the river…
side and went and sat together in a house。 All present were in
tears。 〃Do not let us weep；〃 said the talking man； Lauati。 〃We
have no cause for shame。 We do not yield to Tamasese； but to the
invincible strangers。〃 The departing king bequeathed the care of
his country to Mataafa； and when the latter sought to console him
with the commodore's promises； he shook his head； and declared his
assurance that he was going to a life of exile； and perhaps to
death。 About two o'clock the meeting broke up； Mataafa returned to
the Catholic mission