Samoans, Where Do

Yon Live? ( Contributed)

LAST week I picked my way through a group of piglets and ascended the rickety steps of the post office at Yan Yow, in Thailand, and the follow ing conversation ensued between the Postmaster and myself : M.: I wish to register a letter to Samoa (handing it over).

P.M.: You will tell me the country of destination, pliss?

M.: Samoa is the country, and Apia is the town, shown on the letter.

P.M.; In America?

M.: Not America. In the South Sea Islands.

P.M.: In Europe?

M.: Not Europe. Samoa is a group of islands in the Pacific Ocean, between Australia and America.

P.M.: Ha, America. That is United States.

M.: Not in America, in the South Sea Islands.

P.M.: You will wait, pliss. I will look in the book. (Produces a large book, Vol. ii, published in accordance with the In ternational Berne Convention, I think.

I remember using one when nostmaster at Tulagi. BSI, in the early 20’s).

P.M.: Ha. Samoa, California (rather triumphantly). Samoa is in America.

M.: No. Not America. Please look in Volume I of the book, for Apia.

P.M. (after doing so, reads); Apia, Samoa (lies).

M.: You see, Samoa is in the Islands, “lies” in brackets means Islands.

P.M.: But Samoa is in California. The book says so.

M.: That is not the same place. Per haps a hick town there.

P.M.: Hick town? But you tell me Apia is the town.

M.: Yes, Apia is the town and Samoa is the country in the South Sea Islands, not in America. Will you tell me how much it will cost to register the letter if I send it to America?

P.M. (after weighing, etc.): 5 baht 20 satangs.

M.: Very well, I will pay that much, and when the letter reaches Bangkok, perhaps they will know there where Samoa is.

P.M. (handing me a receipt): Yes, pliss, in America? ?

M. (wearily): Not America.

P.M.: In Europe?

The last query I heard in a raised voice as I was descending the rickety steps and again picked my way through the group of piglets, and out through the place where there had been a gate in former years.

All the foregoing is strictly accurate.

The letter did reach its destination (by air mail) for to-day I had a reply to it.