elf, 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 Samoa, there is
perhaps no such matter as a kingship of all Samoa. He who holds one
royal name would be, upon this view, as much a sovereign person as he
who should chance to hold the other four; he would have less territory
and f