Mats, "salt horse" aplenty for new chief

lULIO M. TAUFAASAU, a 64-year-old former Catholic teacher, assumed American Samoa’s hish matai title of Mauga of Pago Pago in a day-long ceremony on October 28. More than 100 kegs of corned beef and 467 fine mats were given to the new leader in the celebrations.

The Mauga of Pago Pago is one of the most important personages in American Samoa. It was a predecessor of the present title-holder who, in 1872, gave the United States the right to maintain a naval station in Pago Pago, thus paving the way for American annexation of Eastern Samoa.

The last Mauga died on February 7, 1963, and the Trial Division of American Samoa’s High Court subsequently ordered that lulio Taufaasau be registered as the holder of the title. However, 15 people objected to the registration, and it was not until mid-October (after six of the objectors had withdrawn their objections and one had died) that the Appelate Division of the court upheld the Trial Division’s decision.

Chief Justice Edward Hyden said in the Appelate Division’s decision that the Mauga title was among the oldest and most influential matai titles of American Samoa, and that available historical records, dating from the earliest contacts with Europeans, contained numerous references to the Mauga.

“Indeed,” he said, “history tells us that it was the High Chief Mauga of Pago Pago who entered into an agreement or ‘treaty’ in 1872 with Commander Richard Meade, USN, by which the United States was conceded the right to maintain a naval station in Pago Pago Bay in return for the friendship and protection of the great government of the United States.

“Although this ‘treaty’ was never ratified by the United States . . . apropos the prestige and influence of the Mauga, the Samoan people regarded the agreement as binding. . .