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Here； if a king were at all possible； was the king。 And yet the
natives were not satisfied。 Laupepa was crowned； March 19th； and
next month； the provinces of Aana and Atua met in joint parliament；
and elected their own two princes； Tamasese and Mataafa； to an
alternate monarchy； Tamasese taking the first trick of two years。
War was imminent； when the consuls interfered； and any war were
preferable to the terms of the peace which they procured。 By the
Lackawanna treaty； Laupepa was confirmed king； and Tamasese set by
his side in the nondescript office of vice…king。 The compromise
was not； I am told； without precedent； but it lacked all appearance
of success。 To the constitution of Samoa； which was already all
wheels and no horses； the consuls had added a fifth wheel。 In
addition to the old conundrum； 〃Who is the king？〃 they had supplied
a new one； 〃What is the vice…king？〃
Two royal lines； some cloudy idea of alternation between the two；
an electorate in which the vote of each province is immediately
effectual； as regards itself； so that every candidate who attains
one name becomes a perpetual and dangerous competitor for the other
four： such are a few of the more trenchant absurdities。 Many
argue that the whole idea of sovereignty is modern and imported；
but it seems impossible that anything so foolish should have been
suddenly devised； and the constitution bears on its front the marks
of dotage。
But the king； once elected and nominated； what does he become？ It
may be said he remains precisely as he was。 Election to one of the
five names is significant； it brings not only dignity but power；
and the holder is secure； from that moment； of a certain following
in war。 But I cannot find that the further step of election to the
kingship implies anything worth mention。 The successful candidate
is now the TUPU O SAMOA … much good may it do him！ He can so sign
himself on proclamations； which it does not follow that any one
will heed。 He can summon parliaments； it does not follow they will
assemble。 If he be too flagrantly disobeyed； he can go to war。
But so he could before； when he was only the chief of certain
provinces。 His own provinces will support him； the provinces of
his rivals will take the field upon the other part； just as before。
In so far as he is the holder of any of the five NAMES； in short；
he is a man to be reckoned with； in so far as he is king of Samoa；
I cannot find but what the president of a college debating society
is a far more formidable officer。 And unfortunately； although the
credit side of the account proves thus imaginary； the debit side is
actual and heavy。 For he is now set up to be the mark of consuls；
he will be badgered to raise taxes； to make roads； to punish crime；
to quell rebellion： and how he is to do it is not asked。
If I am in the least right in my presentation of this obscure
matter； no one need be surprised to hear that the land is full of
war and rumours of war。 Scarce a year goes by but what some
province is in arms； or sits sulky and menacing； holding
parliaments； disregarding the king's proclamations and planting
food in the bush； the first step of military preparation。 The
religious sentiment of the people is indeed for peace at any price；
no pastor can bear arms； and even the layman who does so is denied
the sacraments。 In the last war the college of Malua； where the
picked youth are prepared for the ministry； lost but a single
student； the rest； in the bosom of a bleeding country； and deaf to
the voices of vanity and honour； peacefully pursued their studies。
But if the church looks askance on war； the warrior in no extremity
of need or passion forgets his consideration for the church。 The
houses and gardens of her ministers stand safe in the midst of
armies； a way is reserved for themselves along the beach； where
they may be seen in their white kilts and jackets openly passing
the lines； while not a hundred yards behind the skirmishers will be
exchanging the useless volleys of barbaric warfare。 Women are also
respected； they are not fired upon； and they are suffered to pass
between the hostile camps； exchanging gossip； spreading rumour； and
divulging to either army the secret councils of the other。 This is
plainly no savage war； it has all the punctilio of the barbarian；
and all his parade； feasts precede battles； fine dresses and songs
decorate and enliven the field； and the young soldier comes to camp
burning （on the one hand） to distinguish himself by acts of valour；
and （on the other） to display his acquaintance with field
etiquette。 Thus after Mataafa became involved in hostilities
against the Germans； and had another code to observe beside his
own； he was always asking his white advisers if 〃things were done
correctly。〃 Let us try to be as wise as Mataafa； and to conceive
that etiquette and morals differ in one country and another。 We
shall be the less surprised to find Samoan war defaced with some
unpalatable customs。 The childish destruction of fruit…trees in an
enemy's country cripples the resources of Samoa； and the habit of
head…hunting not only revolts foreigners； but has begun to exercise
the minds of the natives themselves。 Soon after the German heads
were taken； Mr。 Carne； Wesleyan missionary； had occasion to visit
Mataafa's camp； and spoke of the practice with abhorrence。 〃Misi
Kane；〃 said one chief； 〃we have just been puzzling ourselves to
guess where that custom came from。 But； Misi； is it not so that
when David killed Goliath； he cut off his head and carried it
before the king？〃
With the civil life of the inhabitants we have far less to do； and
yet even here a word of preparation is inevitable。 They are easy；
merry； and pleasure…loving； the gayest； though by far from either
the most capable or the most beautiful of Polynesians。 Fine dress
is a passion； and makes a Samoan festival a thing of beauty。 Song
is almost ceaseless。 The boatman sings at the oar； the family at
evening worship； the girls at night in the guest…house； sometimes
the workman at his toil。 No occasion is too small for the poets
and musicians； a death； a visit； the day's news； the day's
pleasantry； will be set to rhyme and harmony。 Even half…grown
girls； the occasion arising； fashion words and train choruses of
children for its celebration。 Song； as with all Pacific islanders；
goes hand in hand with the dance； and both shade into the drama。
Some of the performances are indecent and ugly； some only dull；
others are pretty； funny； and attractive。 Games are popular。
Cricket…matches； where a hundred played upon a side； endured at
times for weeks； and ate up the country like the presence of an
army。 Fishing； the daily bath； flirtation； courtship； which is
gone upon by proxy； conversation； which is largely political； and
the delights of p