Page:  of 906
 

and the cruel reefs; copra (dried meat of the coconut)
creates their economic value.

Down through the dense greenery leap clear,
dancing streams with deep pools where lurks the
agile sesele or mountain bass, while under the white
waterfalls laughing girls disport themselves. Along
the shores sway bending palms; from every vantage
point one sees blue water meet blue sky, and ever
to the ear comes the low growl of surges along the
barrier reef. 1 And all about (at least in olden days)
swarms a joyous people with shining skins of yellow-
bronze -- straight and strong as Greeks; simple as
children also, happy, affectionate, irresponsible, and
human.

A veritable
fairyland

There are four principal islands in the Samoan (or
Navigator) group. Savaii, the largest and geologi-
cally the youngest, forty-five by thirty miles, lies to
the west, its primitive, creative volcano not yet cold.
Next comes Upolu, forty by fifteen, richest in coco
trees and arable land, with Apia, the largest town in
all Samoa, nestling at the foot of Vaea mountain
sacred to lovers of "R.L.S." Apia's broad U-shaped
harbor, peaceful enough except in the season of
hurricanes, is half choked with its great reef through
which the waters of the river Vaisigano cut their
way in a deep, tortuous, jagged gorge, only wide
enough to admit ships in single file. 2

Apia on
Upolu

Tutuila, fifty miles east of Upolu and twenty
miles long by five wide, encloses the finest harbor in
all the South Seas -- that of Pago Pago, 3 a huge,

Pago Pago
on Tutuila

____________________
1 A barrier reef is one not connected with the shore, from which it is sepa-
rated by a channel or lagoon. Fringing reefs extend from the beach outward.
In Samoa all reefs seen by me belong to the first class.
2 Fresh water kills the coral animals wherever it touches them, thus forming
a sharp break in the reef.
3 Pronounced "Pango Pango." See note, Chapter XXVI, page 18.

-99-

Questia, a part of Gale, Cengage Learning. www.questia.com

Publication Information: Book Title: The Days of a Man: Being Memories of a Naturalist, Teacher, and Minor Prophet of Democracy. Volume: 2. Contributors: David Starr Jordan - author. Publisher: World Book. Place of Publication: Yonkers-on-Hudson, NY. Publication Year: 1922. Page Number: 99.
    
This feature allows you to create and manage separate folders for your different research projects. To view markups for a different project, make that project your current project.
This feature allows you to save a link to the publication you are reading or view all the publications you have put on your bookshelf.
This feature allows you to save a link to the page you are reading, which you can later return to from Projects.
This feature allows you to highlight words or phrases on the publication page you are reading.
This feature allows you to save a note you write on the publication page you are reading.
This feature allows you to create a citation to the page you are reading that you can paste into your paper. Highlight a passage to include that passage as a quotation.
This feature allows you to save a reference to a publication you are reading for your bibliography or generate a bibliography you can paste into your paper.
This feature allows you to print the page you are reading, including your notes or highlights (IE users must have "print background colors and image" setting selected.)
This feature allows you to look up words in encyclopedia.
  About Questia Tools
Close Window  
Questia's powerful research tools allow you to highlight, take notes, bookmark and even create instant citations and bibliographies. To use these features and save hours of work, you must create a Questia account.
Need a Questia account?
Sign up for a FREE trial now. Save time, stress and hassle, and get better grades with trusted, online research.

» Click here for our free trial

Already have a Questia account? Login now!
Error
Working...
Printing Preferences
Format for black and white printer: On Off
Print highlights: On Off
Print notes: On Off
Choose one of the options for printing:
Print this page (No Charge)
Print pages to