The Samoans

Two Years Picnic Amongst The Samoans

Western Samoa’s Judge C. C. Marsack, whose book Samoan Medley was reviewed here last September, would be the first to take to task his rival scribe, from the other Samoa, Marie Tisdale Martin.

THE first things Mrs. Martin noticed about Samoa, and put in her book, Samoan Interlude, were the ramshackle lavatories at the end of their ramshackle jetties that disfigure the Samoan coastline; and the com petitive building of churches which is almost the chief outdoor sport of this part of Polynesia.

In his book, the Judge deplored mention of these things; he seemed to think it was the sign of a shallow mind.

Marie Tisdale Martin is a North American and at the end of 1955 went with her Doctor husband to spend two years in Pago Pago, American Samoa. Although her first, reaction to her new home (which she reached via Western Samoa) might be regarded as trivial by one who knows the Group intimately, her story improves as it goes along—so long as one does not require from it those deep, penetrating researches into Life With Primitive People that are so popular amongst the Cultural Upper Crust.

One thing to be notched up to the credit of Author Martin immediately is that although from the American Continent, her book is not called The Something or Other Paradise; nor, as she tells it, are the Samoans badly

put-upon, sadly misunderstood victims of white exploitation. It is the Eunopeans who seem always to come out on the wrong side of the bargain and who are ready-made victims for such boomeranging facets of Samoan culture as casual child adoption and family obligation.

Perhaps it is the Canadian in her that makes her see Pago Pago (and the whole of American Samoa) without scales to her eyes; and the cerise satin-and-sequin dancing costumes as poor, tawdry substitutes for the real thing of woven grass and bark. But it is a good-humoured ac count of a picnic two years amongst people whose manners and culture seem put on back-to-front, and whose actions can be either hilarious, or infuriating, according to the nature of the person at the receiving end.

As part of his medical duties, Dr.

Martin made an emergency call at Swain’s Island, one of the few re minders of real 19th century adven ture left in the Pacific. The island was settled by the original Eli Jennings and his Samoan wife in the mid-1800’s and it has remained in the Jennings family ever since. Earlier generations of Jennings lived there in some feudal state but when the Martins visited there, post-war labour

Not in polite society: Ramshackle lavatories at the end of ramshackle jetties.

s and the bright lights of Pago ad decreased the labour force once famous colonial mansion ly Jennings had built for a on homestead was falling into life that the present young Mr. ;s and his American wife were vas far from being the lotus affair that one might imagine, is one of the few accounts dern life on Swain’s Island although it came into the itrative sphere of American in 1925, still has much about he romantic Pacific of over ry ago. )AN INTERLUDE. Published by ivies. 22/6.)

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RALIAN Ivan Southall, who ; written a number of adult ional books (including Bluey t and They Shall Not Pass ), has probably got an even ollowing with his Simon Black 3r boys. e latest of these, Simon Black he has his hero in two s, in a mystery ship that is at home in air or water, revolutionary ship looks like g-boat with fins instead of Southall served in Sunderlands the war) and has been built yish of the Australian govern lt is the Prime Minister, no 0 orders Simon and his mates ith her on her first voyage into ific. happens is exciting and sus -1 enough to suit any boy. * BLACK AT SEA. Angus and a Ltd. 17/6.)

s Latest Case

forewords of dedication in e Stanley Gardner’s mysteries letimes as interesting as the themselves, although totally d to them. :xplanations about Nightmare amongst young Filipinos in has got nothing at all to do ;rry Mason’s latest Case of Bather’s Diary, but they in- Gardner and he thinks that )uld intrigue you.

Arlene Duvall lost all her while sunbathing near the Die of the golf club, she Perry Mason in to solve the hich he does with the mini rouble to himself and the m harassment of District At ftamilton Burger.

Case Op The Sun Bather’S

Published by Heinemann. Aust.