profited by the confusion to buttress up imperfect land claims； I
am sure the other whites would not be far behind the firm。
Properties were fenced in； fences and houses were torn down；
scuffles ensued。 The German example at Mulinuu was followed with
laughable unanimity； wherever an Englishman or an American
conceived himself to have a claim； he set up the emblem of his
country； and the beach twinkled with the flags of nations。
All this； it will be observed； was going forward in that neutral
territory； sanctified by treaty against the presence of armed
Samoans。 The insurgents themselves looked on in wonder： on the
4th； trembling to transgress against the great Powers； they had
written for a delimitation of the ELEELE SA； and Becker； in
conversation with the British consul； replied that he recognised
none。 So long as Tamasese held the ground； this was expedient。
But suppose Tamasese worsted； it might prove awkward for the
stores； mills； and offices of a great German firm； thus bared of
shelter by the act of their own consul。
On the morning of the 9th September； just ten days after the death
of Saifaleupolu； Mataafa； under the name of Malietoa To'oa Mataafa；
was crowned king at Faleula。 On the 11th he wrote to the British
and American consuls： 〃Gentlemen； I write this letter to you two
very humbly and entreatingly； on account of this difficulty that
has come before me。 I desire to know from you two gentlemen the
truth where the boundaries of the neutral territory are。 You will
observe that I am now at Vaimoso ＇a step nearer the enemy＇； and I
have stopped here until I knew what you say regarding the neutral
territory。 I wish to know where I can go； and where the forbidden
ground is； for I do not wish to go on any neutral territory； or on
any foreigner's property。 I do not want to offend any of the great
Powers。 Another thing I would like。 Would it be possible for you
three consuls to make Tamasese remove from German property？ for I
am in awe of going on German land。〃 He must have received a reply
embodying Becker's renunciation of the principle； at once； for he
broke camp the same day； and marched eastward through the bush
behind Apia。
Brandeis； expecting attack； sought to improve his indefensible
position。 He reformed his centre by the simple expedient of
suppressing it。 Apia was evacuated。 The two flanks； Mulinuu and
Matautu； were still held and fortified； Mulinuu （as I have said） to
the isthmus； Matautu on a line from the bayside to the little river
Fuisa。 The centre was represented by the trajectory of a boat
across the bay from one flank to another； and was held （we may say）
by the German war…ship。 Mataafa decided （I am assured） to make a
feint on Matautu； induce Brandeis to deplete Mulinuu in support；
and then fall upon and carry that。 And there is no doubt in my
mind that such a plan was bruited abroad； for nothing but a belief
in it could explain the behaviour of Brandeis on the 12th。 That it
was seriously entertained by Mataafa I stoutly disbelieve； the
German flag and sailors forbidding the enterprise in Mulinuu。 So
that we may call this false intelligence the beginning and the end
of Mataafa's strategy。
The whites who sympathised with the revolt were uneasy and
impatient。 They will still tell you； though the dates are there to
show them wrong； that Mataafa； even after his coronation； delayed
extremely： a proof of how long two days may seem to last when men
anticipate events。 On the evening of the 11th； while the new king
was already on the march； one of these walked into Matautu。 The
moon was bright。 By the way he observed the native houses dark and
silent； the men had been about a fortnight in the bush； but now the
women and children were gone also； at which he wondered。 On the
sea…beach； in the camp of the Tamaseses； the solitude was near as
great； he saw three or four men smoking before the British
consulate； perhaps a dozen in all； the rest were behind in the bush
upon their line of forts。 About the midst he sat down； and here a
woman drew near to him。 The moon shone in her face； and he knew
her for a householder near by； and a partisan of Mataafa's。 She
looked about her as she came； and asked him； trembling； what he did
in the camp of Tamasese。 He was there after news； he told her。
She took him by the hand。 〃You must not stay here； you will get
killed；〃 she said。 〃The bush is full of our people； the others are
watching them； fighting may begin at any moment； and we are both
here too long。〃 So they set off together； and she told him by the
way that she had came to the hostile camp with a present of
bananas； so that the Tamasese men might spare her house。 By the
Vaisingano they met an old man； a woman； and a child； and these
also she warned and turned back。 Such is the strange part played
by women among the scenes of Samoan warfare； such were the
liberties then permitted to the whites； that these two could pass
the lines； talk together in Tamasese's camp on the eve of an
engagement； and pass forth again bearing intelligence； like
privileged spies。 And before a few hours the white man was in
direct communication with the opposing general。 The next morning
he was accosted 〃about breakfast…time〃 by two natives who stood
leaning against the pickets of a public…house； where the Siumu road
strikes in at right angles to the main street of Apia。 They told
him battle was imminent； and begged him to pass a little way inland
and speak with Mataafa。 The road is at this point broad and fairly
good； running between thick groves of cocoa…palm and breadfruit。 A
few hundred yards along this the white man passed a picket of four
armed warriors； with red handkerchiefs and their faces blackened in
the form of a full beard； the Mataafa rallying signs for the day； a
little farther on； some fifty； farther still； a hundred； and at
last a quarter of a mile of them sitting by the wayside armed and
blacked。
Near by； in the verandah of a house on a knoll； he found Mataafa
seated in white clothes； a Winchester across his knees。 His men；
he said； were still arriving from behind； and there was a turning
movement in operation beyond the Fuisa； so that the Tamaseses
should be assailed at the same moment from the south and east。 And
this is another indication that the attack on Matautu was the true
attack； had any design on Mulinuu been in the wind； not even a
Samoan general would have detached these troops upon the other
side。 While they still spoke； five Tamasese women were brought in
with their hands bound； they had been stealing 〃our〃 bananas。
All morning the town was strangely deserted； the very children
gone。 A sense of expectation reigned； and sympathy for the attack
was expressed publicly。 Some men with unblacked faces came to
Moors's store for biscuit。 A native woman； who was there
marketing； inquired after the news； and； hearing that the battle
was now near at hand； 〃Give them two more tins；〃 said she； 〃and
don't put them down to my husband … he would growl； put them down
to me。〃 Between twelve and one； two white men walked toward
Matautu； finding as they went no sign of war until they had passed
the Vaisingano and come to the corner of a by…path leading to the
bush。 Here were four blackened warriors on guard； … the extreme
left wing of the Mataafa force； where it touched the waters of the
bay。 Thence the line （which the white men followed） stretched
inland among bush and marsh； facing the forts of the Tamaseses。
The warriors lay as yet inactive behind trees； but all the young
boys and harlots of Apia toiled in the front upon a trench； digging
with knives and cocoa…shells； and a continuous stream of children
brought them water。 The young sappers worked crouching； from the
outside only an occasional head； or a hand emptying a shell of
earth； was visible； and their enemies looked on inert from the line
of the opposing forts。 The lists were not yet prepared； the
tournament was not yet open； and the attacking force was suffered
to throw up works under the silent guns of the defence。 But there
is an end even to the delay of islanders。 As the white men stood
and looked； the Tamasese line thundered into a volley； it was
answered； the crowd of silent workers broke forth in laughter and
cheers； and the battle had begun。
Thenceforward； all day and most of the next night； volley followed
volley； and pounds of lead and pounds sterling of money continued
to be blown into the air without cessation and almost without
result。 Colonel de Coetlogon； an old soldier； described the noise
as deafening。 The harbour was all struck with shots； a man was
knocked over on the German war…ship； half Apia was under fire； and
a house was pierced beyond the Mulivai。