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第41章

a footnote to history-第41章

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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 conceived a not unnatural aversion to all Germans; from which 

only the loyal Brandeis is excepted; and a not unnatural admiration 

for their late successful adversary。  Men of his own blood and 

clan; men whom he had fought in the field; whom he had driven from 

Matautu; who had smitten him back time and again from before the 

rustic bulwarks of Lotoanuu; they approached him hand in hand with 

their ancestral enemies and concurred in the same prayer。  The 

treaty (they argued) was not carried out。  The right to elect their 

king had been granted them; or if that were denied or suspended; 

then the right to elect 〃his successor。〃  They were dissatisfied 

with Laupepa; and claimed; 〃according to the laws and customs of 

Samoa;〃 duly to appoint another。  The orators of Malie declared 

with irritation that their second appointment was alone valid and 

Mataafa the sole Malietoa; the whole body of malcontents named him 

as their choice for king; and they requested him in consequence to 

leave Apia and take up his dwelling in Malie; the name…place of 

Malietoa; a step which may be described; to European ears; as 

placing before the country his candidacy for the crown。



I do not know when the proposal was first made。  Doubtless the 

disaffection grew slowly; every trifle adding to its force; 

doubtless there lingered for long a willingness to give the new 

government a trial。  The chief justice at least had been nearly 

five months in the country; and the president; Baron Senfft von 

Pilsach; rather more than a month before the mine was sprung。  On 

May 31; 1891; the house of Mataafa was found empty; he and his 

chiefs had vanished from Apia; and; what was worse; three 

prisoners; liberated from the gaol; had accompanied them in their 

secession; two being political offenders; and the third (accused of 

murder) having been perhaps set free by accident。  Although the 

step had been discussed in certain quarters; it took all men by 

surprise。  The inhabitants at large expected instant war。  The 

officials awakened from a dream to recognise the value of that 

which they had lost。  Mataafa at Vaiala; where he was the pledge of 

peace; had perhaps not always been deemed worthy of particular 

attention; Mataafa at Malie was seen; twelve hours too late; to be 

an altogether different quantity。  With excess of zeal on the other 

side; the officials trooped to their boats and proceeded almost in 

a body to Malie; where they seem to have employed every artifice of 

flattery and every resource of eloquence upon the fugitive high 

chief。  These courtesies; perhaps excessive in themselves; had the 

unpardonable fault of being offered when too late。  Mataafa showed 

himself facile on small issues; inflexible on the main; he restored 

the prisoners; he returned with the consuls to Apia on a flying 

visit; he gave his word that peace should be preserved … a pledge 

in which perhaps no one believed at the moment; but which he has 

since nobly redeemed。  On the rest he was immovable; he had cast 

the die; he had declared his candidacy; he had gone to Malie。  

Thither; after his visit to Apia; he returned again; there he has 

practically since resided。



Thus was created in the islands a situation; strange in the 

beginning; and which; as its inner significance is developed; 

becomes daily stranger to observe。  On the one hand; Mataafa sits 

in Malie; assumes a regal state; receives deputations; heads his 

letters 〃Government of Samoa;〃 tacitly treats the king as a co…

ordinate; and yet declares himself; and in many ways conducts 

himself; as a law…abiding citizen。  On the other; the white 

officials in Mulinuu stand contemplating the phenomenon with eyes 

of growing stupefaction; now with symptoms of collapse; now with 

accesses of violence。  For long; even those well versed in island 

manners and the island character daily expected war; and heard 

imaginary drums beat in the forest。  But for now close upon a year; 

and against every stress of persuasion and temptation; Mataafa has 

been the bulwark of our peace。  Apia lay open to be seized; he had 

the power in his hand; his followers cried to be led on; his 

enemies marshalled him the same way by impotent examples; and he 

has never faltered。  Early in the day; a white man was sent from 

the government of Mulinuu to examine and report upon his actions:  

I saw the spy on his return; 〃It was only our rebel that saved us;〃 

he said; with a laugh。  There is now no honest man in the islands 

but is well aware of it; none but knows that; if we have enjoyed 

during the past eleven months the conveniences of peace; it is due 

to the forbearance of 〃our rebel。〃  Nor does this part of his 

conduct stand alone。  He calls his party at Malie the government; … 

〃our government;〃 … but he pays his taxes to the government at 

Mulinuu。  He takes ground like a king; he has steadily and blandly 

refused to obey all orders as to his own movements or behaviour; 

but upon requisition he sends offenders to be tried under the chief 

justice。



We have here a problem of conduct; and what seems an image of 

inconsistency; very hard at the first sight to be solved by any 

European。  Plainly Mataafa does not act at random。  Plainly; in the 

depths of his Samoan mind; he regards his attitude as regular and 

constitutional。  It may be unexpected; it may be inauspicious; it 

may be undesirable; but he thinks it … and perhaps it is … in full 

accordance with those 〃laws and customs of Samoa〃 ignorantly 

invoked by the draughtsmen of the Berlin Act。  The point is worth 

an effort of comprehension; a man's life may yet depend upon it。  

Let us conceive; in the first place; that there are five separate 

kingships in Samoa; though not always five different kings; and 

that though one man; by holding the five royal names; might become 

king in ALL PARTS of Sa

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