a footnote to history-第21部分

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

was　a　great　diplomatist。　　And　amongst　a　certain　party　on　the　beach　

he　is　still　named　as　the　ideal　consul。







CHAPTER　VII　…　THE　SAMOAN　CAMPS

NOVEMBER　1888







WHEN　Brandeis　and　Tamasese　fled　by　night　from　Mulinuu；　they　carried　

their　wandering　government　some　six　miles　to　windward；　to　a　

position　above　Lotoanuu。　　For　some　three　miles　to　the　eastward　of　

Apia；　the　shores　of　Upolu　are　low　and　the　ground　rises　with　a　

gentle　acclivity；　much　of　which　waves　with　German　plantations。　　A　

barrier　reef　encloses　a　lagoon　passable　for　boats：　　and　the　

traveller　skims　there；　on　smooth；　many…tinted　shallows；　between　the　

wall　of　the　breakers　on　the　one　hand；　and　on　the　other　a　succession　

of　palm…tree　capes　and　cheerful　beach…side　villages。　　Beyond　the　

great　plantation　of　Vailele；　the　character　of　the　coast　is　changed。　　

The　barrier　reef　abruptly　ceases；　the　surf　beats　direct　upon　the　

shore；　and　the　mountains　and　untenanted　forest　of　the　interior　

descend　sheer　into　the　sea。　　The　first　mountain　promontory　is　

Letongo。　　The　bay　beyond　is　called　Laulii；　and　became　the　

headquarters　of　Mataafa。　　And　on　the　next　projection；　on　steep；　

intricate　ground；　veiled　in　forest　and　cut　up　by　gorges　and　

defiles；　Tamasese　fortified　his　lines。　　This　greenwood　citadel；　

which　proved　impregnable　by　Samoan　arms；　may　be　regarded　as　his　

front；　the　sea　covered　his　right；　and　his　rear　extended　along　the　

coast　as　far　as　Saluafata；　and　thus　commanded　and　drew　upon　a　rich　

country；　including　the　plain　of　Falefa。



He　was　left　in　peace　from　11th　October　till　November　6th。　　But　his　

adversary　is　not　wholly　to　be　blamed　for　this　delay；　which　depended　

upon　island　etiquette。　　His　Savaii　contingent　had　not　yet　come　in；　

and　to　have　moved　again　without　waiting　for　them　would　have　been　

surely　to　offend；　perhaps　to　lose　them。　　With　the　month　of　November　

they　began　to　arrive：　　on　the　2nd　twenty　boats；　on　the　3rd　twenty…

nine；　on　the　5th　seventeen。　　On　the　6th　the　position　Mataafa　had　so　

long　occupied　on　the　skirts　of　Apia　was　deserted；　all　that　day　and　

night　his　force　kept　streaming　eastward　to　Laulii；　and　on　the　7th　

the　siege　of　Lotoanuu　was　opened　with　a　brisk　skirmish。



Each　side　built　forts；　facing　across　the　gorge　of　a　brook。　　An　

endless　fusillade　and　shouting　maintained　the　spirit　of　the　

warriors；　and　at　night；　even　if　the　firing　slackened；　the　pickets　

continued　to　exchange　from　either　side　volleys　of　songs　and　pungent　

pleasantries。　　Nearer　hostilities　were　rendered　difficult　by　the　

nature　of　the　ground；　where　men　must　thread　dense　bush　and　clamber　

on　the　face　of　precipices。　　Apia　was　near　enough；　a　man；　if　he　had　

a　dollar　or　two；　could　walk　in　before　a　battle　and　array　himself　in　

silk　or　velvet。　　Casualties　were　not　common；　there　was　nothing　to　

cast　gloom　upon　the　camps；　and　no　more　danger　than　was　required　to　

give　a　spice　to　the　perpetual　firing。　　For　the　young　warriors　it　

was　a　period　of　admirable　enjoyment。　　But　the　anxiety　of　Mataafa　

must　have　been　great　and　growing。　　His　force　was　now　considerable。　　

It　was　scarce　likely　he　should　ever　have　more。　　That　he　should　be　

long　able　to　supply　them　with　ammunition　seemed　incredible；　at　the　

rates　then　or　soon　after　current；　hundreds　of　pounds　sterling　might　

be　easily　blown　into　the　air　by　the　skirmishers　in　the　course　of　a　

few　days。　　And　in　the　meanwhile；　on　the　mountain　opposite；　his　

outnumbered　adversary　held　his　ground　unshaken。



By　this　time　the　partisanship　of　the　whites　was　unconcealed。　　

Americans　supplied　Mataafa　with　ammunition；　English　and　Americans　

openly　subscribed　together　and　sent　boat…loads　of　provisions　to　his　

camp。　　One　such　boat　started　from　Apia　on　a　day　of　rain；　it　was　

pulled　by　six　oars；　three　being　paid　by　Moors；　three　by　the　

MacArthurs；　Moors　himself　and　a　clerk　of　the　MacArthurs'　were　in　

charge；　and　the　load　included　not　only　beef　and　biscuit；　but　three　

or　four　thousand　rounds　of　ammunition。　　They　came　ashore　in　Laulii；　

and　carried　the　gift　to　Mataafa。　　While　they　were　yet　in　his　house　

a　bullet　passed　overhead；　and　out　of　his　door　they　could　see　the　

Tamasese　pickets　on　the　opposite　hill。　　Thence　they　made　their　way　

to　the　left　flank　of　the　Mataafa　position　next　the　sea。　　A　Tamasese　

barricade　was　visible　across　the　stream。　　It　rained；　but　the　

warriors　crowded　in　their　shanties；　squatted　in　the　mud；　and　

maintained　an　excited　conversation。　　Balls　flew；　either　faction；　

both　happy　as　lords；　spotting　for　the　other　in　chance　shots；　and　

missing。　　One　point　is　characteristic　of　that　war；　experts　in　

native　feeling　doubt　if　it　will　characterise　the　next。　　The　two　

white　visitors　passed　without　and　between　the　lines　to　a　rocky　

point　upon　the　beach。　　The　person　of　Moors　was　well　known；　the　

purpose　of　their　coming　to　Laulii　must　have　been　already　bruited　

abroad；　yet　they　were　not　fired　upon。　　From　the　point　they　spied　a　

crow's　nest；　or　hanging　fortification；　higher　up；　and；　judging　it　

was　a　good　position　for　a　general　view；　obtained　a　guide。　　He　led　

them　up　a　steep　side　of　the　mountain；　where　they　must　climb　by　

roots　and　tufts　of　grass；　and　coming　to　an　open　hill…top　with　some　

scattered　trees；　bade　them　wait；　let　him　draw　the　fire；　and　then　be　

swift　to　follow。　　Perhaps　a　dozen　balls　whistled　about　him　ere　he　

had　crossed　the　dangerous　passage　and　dropped　on　the　farther　side　

into　the　crow's…nest；　the　white　men；　briskly　following；　escaped　

unhurt。　　The　crow's…nest　was　built　like　a　bartizan　on　the　

precipitous　front　of　the　position。　　Across　the　ravine；　perhaps　at　

five　hundred　yards；　heads　were　to　be　seen　popping　up　and　down　in　a　

fort　of　Tamesese's。　　On　both　sides　the　same　enthusiasm　without　

council；　the　same　senseless　vigilance；　reigned。　　Some　took　aim；　

some　blazed　before　them　at　a　venture。　　Now　…　when　a　head　showed　on　

the　other　side　…　one　would　take　a　crack　at　it；　remarking　that　it　

would　never　do　to　〃miss　a　chance。〃　　Now　they　would　all　fire　a　

volley　and　bob　down；　a　return　volley　rang　across　the　ravine；　and　

was　punctually　answered：　　harmless　as　lawn…tennis。　　The　whites　

expostulated　in　vain。　　The　warriors；　drunken　with　noise；　made　

answer　by　a　fresh　general　discharge　and　bade　their　visitors　run　

while　it　was　time。　　Upon　their　return　to　headquarters；　men　were　

covering　the　front　with　sheets　of　coral　limestone；　two　balls　having　

passed　through　the　house　in　the　interval。　　Mataafa　sat　within；　over　

his　kava　bowl；　unmoved。　　The　picture　is　of　a　piece　throughout：　　

excellent　courage；　super…excellent　folly；　a　war　of　school…children；　

expensive　guns　and　cartridges　used　like　squibs　or　catherine…wheels　

on　Guy　Fawkes's　Day。



On　the　20th　Mataafa　changed　his　attack。　　Tamasese's　front　was　

seemingly　impregnable。　　Something　must　be　tried　upon　his　rear。　　

There　was　his　bread…basket；　a　small　success　in　that　direction　would　

immediately　curtail　his　resources；　and　it　might　be　possible　with　

energy　to　roll　up　his　line　along　the　beach　and　take　the　citadel　in　

reverse。　　The　scheme　was　carried　out　as　might　be　expected　from　

these　childish　soldiers。　　Mataafa；　always　uneasy　about　Apia；　clung　

with　a　portion　of　his　force　to　Laulii；　and　thus；　had　the　foe　been　

enterprising；　exposed　himself　to　disaster。　　The　expedition　fell　

successfully　enough　on　Saluafata　and　drove　out　the　Tamaseses　with　a　

loss　of　four　heads；　but　so　far　from　improving　the　advantage；　

yielded　immediately　to　the　weakness　of　the　Samoan　warrior；　and　

ranged　farther　east　through　unarmed　populations；　bursting　with　

shouts　and　blackened　faces　into　villages　terrified　or　admiring；　

making　spoil　of　pigs；　burning　houses；　and　destroying　gardens。　　The　

Tamasese　had　at　first　evacuated　several　beach　towns　in　succession；　

and　were　still　in　retreat　on　Lotoanuu；　finding　themselves　

unpursued；　they　reoccupied　them　one　after　another；　and　re…

established　their　lines　to　the　very　borders　of　Saluafata。　　Night　

fell；　Mataafa　had　taken　Saluafata；　Tamasese　had　lost　it；　and　that　

was　all。　　But　the　day　came　near　to　have　a　different　and　very　

singular　issue。　　The　village　was　not　long　in　the　hands　of　the　

Mataafas；　when　a　schooner；　flying　German　colours；　put　into　the　bay　

and　was　immediately　surrounded　by　their　boats。　　It　chanced　that　

Brandeis　was　on　board。　　Word　of　it　had　gone　abroad；　and　the　boats　

as　they　approached　demanded　him　with　threats。　　The　late　premier；　

alone；　entirely　unarmed；　and　a　prey　to　natural　and　painful　

feelings；　concealed　himself　below。　　The　captain　of　the　schooner　

remained　on　deck；　pointed　to　the　German　colours；　and　defied　

approaching　boats。　　Again　the　prestige　of　a　great　Power　triumphed；　

the　Samoans　fell　back　before　the　bunting；　the　schooner　worked　out　

of　the　bay；　Brandeis　escaped。　　He　himself　apprehended　the　worst　if　

he　fell　into　Samoan　hands；　it　is　my　diffident　impression　that　his　

life　would　have　been　safe。



On　the　22nd；　a　new　German　war…ship；　the　EBER；　of　tragic　memory；　

came　to　Apia　from　the　Gilberts；　where　she　had　been　disarming　

turbulent　islands。　　The　rest　of　that　day　and　all　night　she　loaded　

stores　from　the　firm；　and　on　the　morrow　reached　Saluafata　bay。　　

Thanks　to　the　misconduct　of　the　Mataafas；　the　most　of　the　foreshore　

was　still　in　the　hands　of　the　Tamaseses；　and　they　were　thus　able　to　

receive　from　the　EBER　both　the　stores　and　weapons。　　The　weapons　had　

been　sold　long　since　to　Tarawa；　Apaiang；　and　Pleasant　Island；　

places　unheard　of　by　the　general　reader；　where　obscure　inhabitants　

paid　for　these　instruments　of　death　in　money　or　in　labour；　misused　

them　as　it　was　known　they　would　be　misused；　and　had　been　disarmed　

by　force。　　The　EBER　had　brought　back　the　guns　to　a　German　counter；　

whence　many　must　have　been　originally　sold；　and　was　here　engaged；　

like　a　shopboy；　in　their　distribution　to　fresh　purchasers。　　Such　is　

the　vicious　circle　of　the　traffic　in　weapons　of　war。　　An