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第25章

a footnote to history-第25章

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that of designed disregard to the neutrality。  Such was the 

impression here on the spot; such in plain terms the statement of 

Count Hatzfeldt to Lord Salisbury at home:  that the neutrality of 

Apia was only 〃to prevent the natives from fighting;〃 not the 

Germans; and that whatever Becker might have promised at the 

conference; he could not 〃restrict German war…vessels in their 

freedom of action。〃



There was nothing to surprise in this discovery; and had events 

been guided at the same time with a steady and discreet hand; it 

might have passed with less observation。  But the policy of Becker 

was felt to be not only reckless; it was felt to be absurd also。  

Sudden nocturnal onfalls upon native boats could lead; it was felt; 

to no good end whether of peace or war; they could but exasperate; 

they might prove; in a moment; and when least expected; ruinous。  

To those who knew how nearly it had come to fighting; and who 

considered the probable result; the future looked ominous。  And 

fear was mingled with annoyance in the minds of the Anglo…Saxon 

colony。  On the 24th; a public meeting appealed to the British and 

American consuls。  At half…past seven in the evening guards were 

landed at the consulates。  On the morrow they were each fortified 

with sand…bags; and the subjects informed by proclamation that 

these asylums stood open to them on any alarm; and at any hour of 

the day or night。  The social bond in Apia was dissolved。  The 

consuls; like barons of old; dwelt each in his armed citadel。  The 

rank and file of the white nationalities dared each other; and 

sometimes fell to on the street like rival clansmen。  And the 

little town; not by any fault of the inhabitants; rather by the act 

of Becker; had fallen back in civilisation about a thousand years。



There falls one more incident to be narrated; and then I can close 

with this ungracious chapter。  I have mentioned the name of the new 

English consul。  It is already familiar to English readers; for the 

gentleman who was fated to undergo some strange experiences in Apia 

was the same de Coetlogon who covered Hicks's flank at the time of 

the disaster in the desert; and bade farewell to Gordon in Khartoum 

before the investment。  The colonel was abrupt and testy; Mrs。 de 

Coetlogon was too exclusive for society like that of Apia; but 

whatever their superficial disabilities; it is strange they should 

have left; in such an odour of unpopularity; a place where they set 

so shining an example of the sterling virtues。  The colonel was 

perhaps no diplomatist; he was certainly no lawyer; but he 

discharged the duties of his office with the constancy and courage 

of an old soldier; and these were found sufficient。  He and his 

wife had no ambition to be the leaders of society; the consulate 

was in their time no house of feasting; but they made of it that 

house of mourning to which the preacher tells us it is better we 

should go。  At an early date after the battle of Matautu; it was 

opened as a hospital for the wounded。  The English and Americans 

subscribed what was required for its support。  Pelly of the LIZARD 

strained every nerve to help; and set up tents on the lawn to be a 

shelter for the patients。  The doctors of the English and American 

ships; and in particular Dr。 Oakley of the LIZARD; showed 

themselves indefatigable。  But it was on the de Coetlogons that the 

distress fell。  For nearly half a year; their lawn; their verandah; 

sometimes their rooms; were cumbered with the sick and dying; their 

ears were filled with the complaints of suffering humanity; their 

time was too short for the multiplicity of pitiful duties。  In Mrs。 

de Coetlogon; and her helper; Miss Taylor; the merit of this 

endurance was perhaps to be looked for; in a man of the colonel's 

temper; himself painfully suffering; it was viewed with more 

surprise; if with no more admiration。  Doubtless all had their 

reward in a sense of duty done; doubtless; also; as the days 

passed; in the spectacle of many traits of gratitude and patience; 

and in the success that waited on their efforts。  Out of a hundred 

cases treated; only five died。  They were all well…behaved; though 

full of childish wiles。  One old gentleman; a high chief; was 

seized with alarming symptoms of belly…ache whenever Mrs。 de 

Coetlogon went her rounds at night:  he was after brandy。  Others 

were insatiable for morphine or opium。  A chief woman had her foot 

amputated under chloroform。  〃Let me see my foot!  Why does it not 

hurt?〃 she cried。  〃It hurt so badly before I went to sleep。〃  

Siteoni; whose name has been already mentioned; had his shoulder…

blade excised; lay the longest of any; perhaps behaved the worst; 

and was on all these grounds the favourite。  At times he was 

furiously irritable; and would rail upon his family and rise in bed 

until he swooned with pain。  Once on the balcony he was thought to 

be dying; his family keeping round his mat; his father exhorting 

him to be prepared; when Mrs。 de Coetlogon brought him round again 

with brandy and smelling…salts。  After discharge; he returned upon 

a visit of gratitude; and it was observed; that instead of coming 

straight to the door; he went and stood long under his umbrella on 

that spot of ground where his mat had been stretched and he had 

endured pain so many months。  Similar visits were the rule; I 

believe without exception; and the grateful patients loaded Mrs。 de 

Coetlogon with gifts which (had that been possible in Polynesia) 

she would willingly have declined; for they were often of value to 

the givers。



The tissue of my story is one of rapacity; intrigue; and the 

triumphs of temper; the hospital at the consulate stands out almost 

alone as an episode of human beauty; and I dwell on it with 

satisfaction。  But it was not regarded at the time with universal 

favour; and even to…day its institution is thought by many to have 

been impolitic。  It was opened; it stood open; for the wounded of 

either party。  As a matter of fact it was never used but by the 

Mataafas; and the Tamaseses were cared for exclusively by German 

doctors。  In the progressive decivilisation of the town; these 

duties of humanity became thus a ground of quarrel。  When the 

Mataafa hurt were first brought together after the battle of 

Matautu; and some more or less amateur surgeons were dressing 

wounds on a green by the wayside; one from the German consulate 

went by in the road。  〃Why don't you let the dogs die?〃 he asked。  

〃Go to hell;〃 was the rejoinder。  Such were the amenities of Apia。  

But Becker reserved for himself the extreme expression of this 

spirit。  On November 7th hostilities began again between the Samoan 

armies; and an inconclusive skirmish sent a fresh crop of wounded 

to the de Coetlogons。  Next door to the consulate; some native 

houses and a chapel (now ruinous) stood on a green。  Chapel and 

houses were certainly Samoan; but the ground was under a land…claim 

of the German firm; and de Coetlogon wrote to Becker requesting 

permission (in case it should prove necessary) to use these 

structures for his wounded。  Before an answer came; the hospital 

was startled by the appearance of a case of gangrene; and the 

patient was hastily removed into the chapel。  A rebel laid on 

German ground … here was an atrocity!  The day before his own 

relief; November 11th; Becker ordered the man's instant removal。  

By his aggressive carriage and singular mixture of violence and 

cunning; he had already largely brought about the fall of Brandeis; 

and forced into an attitude of hostility the whole non…German 

population of the islands。  Now; in his last hour of office; by 

this wanton buffet to his English colleague; he prepared a 

continuance of evil days for his successor。  If the object of 

diplomacy be the organisation of failure in the midst of hate; he 

was a great diplomatist。  And amongst a cert

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