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and pleasing sentiment of loyalty to their employers。
Seven or eight hundred imported men and women toil for the company
on contracts of three or of five years； and at a hypothetical wage
of a few dollars in the month。 I am now on a burning question：
the labour traffic； and I shall ask permission in this place only
to touch it with the tongs。 Suffice it to say that in Queensland；
Fiji； New Caledonia； and Hawaii it has been either suppressed or
placed under close public supervision。 In Samoa； where it still
flourishes； there is no regulation of which the public receives any
evidence； and the dirty linen of the firm； if there be any dirty；
and if it be ever washed at all； is washed in private。 This is
unfortunate； if Germans would believe it。 But they have no idea of
publicity； keep their business to themselves； rather affect to
〃move in a mysterious way；〃 and are naturally incensed by
criticisms； which they consider hypocritical； from men who would
import 〃labour〃 for themselves； if they could afford it； and would
probably maltreat them if they dared。 It is said the whip is very
busy on some of the plantations； it is said that punitive extra…
labour； by which the thrall's term of service is extended； has
grown to be an abuse； and it is complained that； even where that
term is out； much irregularity occurs in the repatriation of the
discharged。 To all this I can say nothing； good or bad。 A certain
number of the thralls； many of them wild negritos from the west；
have taken to the bush； harbour there in a state partly bestial； or
creep into the back quarters of the town to do a day's stealthy
labour under the nose of their proprietors。 Twelve were arrested
one morning in my own boys' kitchen。 Farther in the bush； huts；
small patches of cultivation； and smoking ovens； have been found by
hunters。 There are still three runaways in the woods of Tutuila；
whither they escaped upon a raft。 And the Samoans regard these
dark…skinned rangers with extreme alarm； the fourth refugee in
Tutuila was shot down （as I was told in that island） while carrying
off the virgin of a village； and tales of cannibalism run round the
country； and the natives shudder about the evening fire。 For the
Samoans are not cannibals； do not seem to remember when they were；
and regard the practice with a disfavour equal to our own。
The firm is Gulliver among the Lilliputs； and it must not be
forgotten； that while the small； independent traders are fighting
for their own hand； and inflamed with the usual jealousy against
corporations； the Germans are inspired with a sense of the
greatness of their affairs and interests。 The thought of the money
sunk； the sight of these costly and beautiful plantations； menaced
yearly by the returning forest； and the responsibility of
administering with one hand so many conjunct fortunes； might well
nerve the manager of such a company for desperate and questionable
deeds。 Upon this scale； commercial sharpness has an air of
patriotism； and I can imagine the man； so far from haggling over
the scourge for a few Solomon islanders； prepared to oppress rival
firms； overthrow inconvenient monarchs； and let loose the dogs of
war。 Whatever he may decide； he will not want for backing。 Every
clerk will be eager to be up and strike a blow； and most Germans in
the group； whatever they may babble of the firm over the walnuts
and the wine； will rally round the national concern at the approach
of difficulty。 They are so few … I am ashamed to give their
number； it were to challenge contradiction … they are so few； and
the amount of national capital buried at their feet is so vast；
that we must not wonder if they seem oppressed with greatness and
the sense of empire。 Other whites take part in our brabbles； while
temper holds out； with a certain schoolboy entertainment。 In the
Germans alone； no trace of humour is to be observed； and their
solemnity is accompanied by a touchiness often beyond belief。
Patriotism flies in arms about a hen； and if you comment upon the
colour of a Dutch umbrella； you have cast a stone against the
German Emperor。 I give one instance； typical although extreme。
One who had returned from Tutuila on the mail cutter complained of
the vermin with which she is infested。 He was suddenly and sharply
brought to a stand。 The ship of which he spoke； he was reminded；
was a German ship。
John Caesar Godeffroy himself had never visited the islands； his
sons and nephews came； indeed； but scarcely to reap laurels； and
the mainspring and headpiece of this great concern； until death
took him； was a certain remarkable man of the name of Theodor
Weber。 He was of an artful and commanding character； in the
smallest thing or the greatest； without fear or scruple； equally
able to affect； equally ready to adopt； the most engaging
politeness or the most imperious airs of domination。 It was he who
did most damage to rival traders； it was he who most harried the
Samoans； and yet I never met any one； white or native； who did not
respect his memory。 All felt it was a gallant battle； and the man
a great fighter； and now when he is dead； and the war seems to have
gone against him； many can scarce remember； without a kind of
regret； how much devotion and audacity have been spent in vain。
His name still lives in the songs of Samoa。 One； that I have
heard； tells of MISI UEBA and a biscuit…box … the suggesting
incident being long since forgotten。 Another sings plaintively how
all things； land and food and property； pass progressively； as by a
law of nature； into the hands of MISI UEBA； and soon nothing will
be left for Samoans。 This is an epitaph the man would have
enjoyed。
At one period of his career； Weber combined the offices of director
of the firm and consul for the City of Hamburg。 No question but he
then drove very hard。 Germans admit that the combination was
unfortunate； and it was a German who procured its overthrow。
Captain Zembsch superseded him with an imperial appointment； one
still remembered in Samoa as 〃the gentleman who acted justly。〃
There was no house to be found； and the new consul must take up his
quarters at first under the same roof with Weber。 On several
questions； in which the firm was vitally interested； Zembsch
embraced the contrary opinion。 Riding one day with an Englishman
in Vailele plantation； he was startled by a burst of screaming；
leaped from the saddle； ran round a house； and found an overseer
beating one of the thralls。 He punished the overseer； and； being a
kindly and perhaps not a very diplomatic man； talked high of what
he felt and what he might consider it his duty to forbid or to
enforce。 The firm began to look askance at such a consul； and
worse was behind。 A number of deeds being brought to the consulate
for registration； Zembsch detected certain transfers o