own house and before my own native servants, he would be
highly justified in keeping clear of Apia and the whites. One gentleman
whose opinion I respect, and am so bold as to hope I may in some points
modify, will understand the allusion and appreciate my reserve. About
the same time there occurred an incident, upon which I must be more
particular. _A_ was a gentleman who had long been an intimate of
Mataafa's, and had recently (upon account, indeed, of the secession to
Malie) more or less wholly broken off relations. To him came one whom I
shall call _B_ with a dastardly proposition. It may have been _B's_ own,
in which case he were the more unpardonable but from the closeness of
his intercourse with the chief justice, as well as from the terms used
in the interview, men judged otherwise. It was proposed that _A_ should
simulate a renewal of the friendship, decoy Mataafa to a suitable place,
and have him there arrested. What should follow in those days of violent
speech was at the least disputable; and the proposal was of course
refused. "You do not understand," was the base rejoinder. "_You_ will
have no discredit. The Germans are to take the blame of the arrest." Of
course, upon the testimony of a gentleman so depraved, it were unfair to
hang a dog; and both the Germans and the chief justice must be held
innocent. But the chief justice has shown that he can himself be led, by
his animosity against Mataafa, into questionable acts. Certain natives
of Malie were accused of stealing pigs; the chief justice summoned them
through Mataafa; several were sent, and along with them a written
promise that, if others were required, these also should be forthcoming
upon requisition. Such as came were duly tried and acquitted; and
Mataafa's offer was communicated to the chief justice, who made a formal
answer, and the same day (in pursuance of his constant design to have
Malie attacked by war-ships) reported to one of the consuls that his
warrant would not run in the country and that certain of the accused had
been withheld. At least, this is not fair dealing; and the next instance
I have to give is possibly worse. For one blunder the chief justice is
only so far responsible, in that he was not present where it seems he
should have been, when it was made. He had nothing to do with the silly
proscription of the Mataafas; he has always disliked the measure; and it
occurred to him at last that he might get rid of this dangerous
absurdit