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expected with an impatience； with a childishness of trust； that can
hardly be exaggerated。 Months passed； these angel…deliverers still
delayed to arrive； and the impatience of the natives became changed
to an ominous irritation。 They have had much experience of being
deceived； and they began to think they were deceived again。 A
sudden crop of superstitious stories buzzed about the islands。
Rivers had come down red； unknown fishes had been taken on the reef
and found to be marked with menacing runes； a headless lizard
crawled among chiefs in council； the gods of Upolu and Savaii made
war by night； they swam the straits to battle； and； defaced by
dreadful wounds； they had besieged the house of a medical
missionary。 Readers will remember the portents in mediaeval
chronicles； or those in JULIUS CAESAR when
〃Fierce fiery warriors fought upon the clouds
In ranks and squadrons。〃
And doubtless such fabrications are； in simple societies； a natural
expression of discontent； and those who forge； and even those who
spread them； work towards a conscious purpose。
Early in January 1891 this period of expectancy was brought to an
end by the arrival of Conrad Cedarcrantz； chief justice of Samoa。
The event was hailed with acclamation； and there was much about the
new official to increase the hopes already entertained。 He was
seen to be a man of culture and ability； in public； of an excellent
presence … in private； of a most engaging cordiality。 But there
was one point； I scarce know whether to say of his character or
policy； which immediately and disastrously affected public feeling
in the islands。 He had an aversion； part judicial； part perhaps
constitutional； to haste； and he announced that； until he should
have well satisfied his own mind； he should do nothing； that he
would rather delay all than do aught amiss。 It was impossible to
hear this without academical approval； impossible to hear it
without practical alarm。 The natives desired to see activity； they
desired to see many fair speeches taken on a body of deeds and
works of benefit。 Fired by the event of the war； filled with
impossible hopes； they might have welcomed in that hour a ruler of
the stamp of Brandeis； breathing hurry； perhaps dealing blows。 And
the chief justice； unconscious of the fleeting opportunity； ripened
his opinions deliberately in Mulinuu； and had been already the
better part of half a year in the islands before he went through
the form of opening his court。 The curtain had risen； there was no
play。 A reaction； a chill sense of disappointment； passed about
the island； and intrigue； one moment suspended； was resumed。
In the Berlin Act； the three Powers recognise； on the threshold；
〃the independence of the Samoan government； and the free right of
the natives to elect their chief or king and choose their form of
government。〃 True； the text continues that； 〃in view of the
difficulties that surround an election in the present disordered
condition of the government；〃 Malietoa Laupepa shall be recognised
as king； 〃unless the three Powers shall by common accord otherwise
declare。〃 But perhaps few natives have followed it so far； and
even those who have； were possibly all cast abroad again by the
next clause： 〃and his successor shall be duly elected according to
the laws and customs of Samoa。〃 The right to elect； freely given
in one sentence； was suspended in the next； and a line or so
further on appeared to be reconveyed by a side…wind。 The reason
offered for suspension was ludicrously false； in May 1889； when Sir
Edward Malet moved the matter in the conference； the election of
Mataafa was not only certain to have been peaceful； it could not
have been opposed； and behind the English puppet it was easy to
suspect the hand of Germany。 No one is more swift to smell
trickery than a Samoan； and the thought； that； under the long；
bland； benevolent sentences of the Berlin Act； some trickery lay
lurking； filled him with the breath of opposition。 Laupepa seems
never to have been a popular king。 Mataafa； on the other hand；
holds an unrivalled position in the eyes of his fellow…countrymen；
he was the hero of the war； he had lain with them in the bush； he
had borne the heat and burthen of the day； they began to claim that
he should enjoy more largely the fruits of victory； his exclusion
was believed to be a stroke of German vengeance； his elevation to
the kingship was looked for as the fitting crown and copestone of
the Samoan triumph； and but a little after the coming of the chief
justice； an ominous cry for Mataafa began to arise in the islands。
It is difficult to see what that official could have done but what
he did。 He was loyal； as in duty bound； to the treaty and to
Laupepa； and when the orators of the important and unruly islet of
Manono demanded to his face a change of kings； he had no choice but
to refuse them； and （his reproof being unheeded） to suspend the
meeting。 Whether by any neglect of his own or the mere force of
circumstance； he failed； however； to secure the sympathy； failed
even to gain the confidence； of Mataafa。 The latter is not without
a sense of his own abilities or of the great service he has
rendered to his native land。 He felt himself neglected； at the
very moment when the cry for his elevation rang throughout the
group he thought himself made little of on Mulinuu； and he began to
weary of his part。 In this humour； he was exposed to a temptation
which I must try to explain； as best I may be able； to Europeans。
The bestowal of the great name； Malietoa； is in the power of the
district of Malie； some seven miles to the westward of Apia。 The
most noisy and conspicuous supporters of that party are the
inhabitants of Manono。 Hence in the elaborate； allusive oratory of
Samoa； Malie is always referred to by the name of PULE （authority）
as having the power of the name； and Manono by that of AINGA （clan；
sept； or household） as forming the immediate family of the chief。
But these； though so important； are only small communities； and
perhaps the chief numerical force of the Malietoas inhabits the
island of Savaii。 Savaii has no royal name to bestow； all the five
being in the gift of different districts of Upolu； but she has the
weight of numbers； and in these latter days has acquired a certain
force by the preponderance in her councils of a single man； the
orator Lauati。 The reader will now understand the peculiar
significance of a deputation which should embrace Lauati and the
orators of both Malie and Manono； how it would represent all that
is most effective on the Malietoa side； and all that is most
considerable in Samoan politics； except the opposite feudal party
of the Tupua。 And in the temptation brought to bear on Mataafa；
even the Tupua was conjoined。 Tamasese was dead。 His followers
had co