King of the island by Levi Tavita

king of the

island A story of Felix Bernhardt David ..

Levi Tavita EVALEON BOOK

I lenei tusi e faamanatu ai aiga ua taâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ua igoa i totonu, faapitoa Ioana Sogi Tavita (1928-1990), ma Laufatu Mika Tavita (1958-2011)

NIUPAC Published by the Evaleon Books

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Manurewa, Auckland 2105, NZ.

First published in 2011

c LLPS Sogi Tavita, 2011 Copyright O

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ISBN 978 0 473 19197 9

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from the National Library of New Zealand

Introduction

My late mother left in my care a legacy of family history in the form of own personal record: two A4 exercise books, 3 note books, a stack of letters of various sorts, and a handful of scribbled notes on torn pages - even covers of other books. It was obvious from the start that her motive was to elicit and record information for family posterity only. If anything, it wasn’t meant to be shared with the public. Early on when she married my father, she came to learn about his own aiga and its story. She was intrigued by her husband’s grandfather’s story. Niko’s story as relayed by himself to my mother was ‘unusual’ enough to draw her interest, which bit by bit she recorded verbatim or transcribed in a book or a paper leaf. As time went by, these were re-entered in new books when the old ones were worn out. Her keen interest on the subject of Niko’s German heritage led to further inquiry with older relatives and sources outside the circle. This process had been quite informal and spontaneous, she said. Looking back, her foresight had made it possible for sources like Niko to make invaluable contributions to this project. It is perhaps the same curiosity which my mother had over an unusual story which prompted me also to pursue it further. My role as guardian of a family bequest was to interpret data and bridge the gaps where necessary, through further inquiry. My engagement with the story gradually convinced me that Niko’s story (about his own father Felix, and German heritage) is something that can be shared publicly. Whilst the name Felix Bernhardt David is undistinguished historically, somehow his life story typifies those of many less known emigrants from Europe who arrived in Apia in the late 1800s, decided to cross the racial line and never looked back. Not so long ago I was a migrant myself in a new country and I could relate to his struggle in many respects. In fairness though, his was more gruelling and

demanding considering the time and circumstances. Whilst none (if any) of them spoke for their own sake, their stories, in the words of their children and witnesses, had given us viable clues about their way of adapting and struggle to find their place among a new race of people and culture. On its own, the story of Felix Bernhardt David, as told by his son Niko and others, and relayed in time through my mother, is truly an unusual story, no less striking than any that is worth sharing. For example, its connection to bigger stories such as the making of Moana, the first world documentary produced and in which Samoa played an important role. As well, glimpses into Samoaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s colonial past and links to prominent figures in business and politics of the period will cater to the educational interests of both young and old historians alike. Finally, this book and the way it came about, bears fresh testimony to the important and ever relevant role of oral history in the making of Pasifika history, however small or significant the subject is. Sincerely, LPS Sogi Tavita 2011

Contents Prologue

Part 1: Prussia 13 Part 2: Upolu

Part 3: Savaii

Epilogue

References 41 Family pedigree 43 Index 45 Glossary

Acknowledgements

The young immigrant Felix Bernhardt David

Prologue

THE EXPLORERS

As a consequence, the group was avoided by European travellers as much as possible. Before La Perouse’s expedition there was a visit by French sailors in 1768, led by Captain Louis de Bougainville. They made contacts with the Samoans on the high seas. Marvelled at the skills of the island sailors on the ocean, he gave the group of islands the name, ‘The Navigators Islands.’ It was to be a name that the Samoa Islands will be known by among Europe until the end of the 19th century. Prior to Bougainville’s, there was another European expedition more

Whilst Europeans had made some contacts with the Samoans through its ocean navigators as early as the 16th century, it had been a long while since any further contacts had been attempted. Trouble was, Samoa had been on Europe’s list of peoples with hostile attitudes towards foreign travellers. Many of them had learnt about the fate of a band of French sailors who had been killed on one of its easterns islands. Eleven sailors were murdered including the captain’s associate.

than forty years earlier. In 1722, led by a Dutchman, Jacob Roggewein, his was the first recorded sighting of the islands by a European sailor. Neither of the first two expeditions made any attempts to land. THE BEACHCOMBERS

La Perouse

Bougainville

missionaries and a native couple who helped to achieve this some forty odd years after. A London-based Christian organisation, The London Missionary Society, whose ambition was to convert so-called heathens through the Christian message, began to send its missionaries to the South Pacific around the early 1800s. After a very short period, its missionaries were able to win the whole of Society Islands, the Cooks and later Tonga over to its Christian beliefs. They had also made huge progress with the Maoris of New Zealand. Their rather late arrival in Samoa clearly spoke for the latter’s unfavourable past, or more specifically the ever lingering shadow of the ‘La Perouse experience’ on Europeans’ perception of the place.

The lost years were interspersed by visits of a different kind. As early as the eighteenth century, ordinary sailors from Europe and America, had by chance, found their way onto the shores of the South Seas either as shipwrecked survivors or castaways. They were given all sorts of names even though ‘beachcombers’ became the favourite. In order to survive, many of them ‘went native’. Before the turn of the century, the ‘beachcomber’ phenomenon had affected almost all the islands. For example, by the time the English missionary John Williams arrived, no less than twenty ‘whites’ were reported to have settled there already, many of them castaways. The Samoans called them papalagi tafea (white drifters).

Rev. John Williams, who became the first European missionary to set foot on the islands, was quite aware of such reputation. Before he decided to visit the place, he had already made a name for himself and his Society amongst the Tahitians and the rest of the Society

THE MISSIONARIES It was the western islands that reestablished contacts with Europeans. Thanks largely to the influence of a paramount chief, a few bold English

Islands. He also pioneered the conversion of Rarotonga and its outlying islands. He had lived on both places, learnt the peoples’ languages and had formed a very good understanding of the islanders and their customs. By nature a practical leader, he quickly realised the value of his native assistants in breaking through the cultural barriers that stood in the way of his message and the natives. In Tahiti and Rarotonga as well, his practice of sending his native assistants to their own islands as forerunners had worked successfuly to everyone’s advantage. Thus when a Samoan couple offered to facilitate on his mission’s behalf, he accepted it graciously. The couple had been staying in Tonga with relatives for quite some time. They had been tutored already on the Christian message during their stay there. Because of their blood ties to Malietoa, the paramount chief of Manono and Savaii, the couple ended up playing a crucial part in the ultimate success of Rev. Williams mission to the Samoans.

John Williams

Malietoa Vaiinuupo

true self to the world as a hospitable and highly-cultured people. It was the London Missionary Society and its religious effort that paved the way for other forms of contacts to follow. For example, it drew the attention of colonial powers who were on the lookout for new Pacific outposts to extend their territories and subsequently commercial interests. BUSINESS INVESTORS Business investors generally refer to individuals or groups who have agreed to work together in business ventures for the single purpose of making a profit out of their investments. Investments can be in the form of capital, skill or effort, though the term refers mainly to capital. Capital simply means money that is initially required to start a business. Some investors decide to be managers as well, running their own businesses or working with others in companies or partnerships. There is

To make a well-known story short, before the decade ended, Samoa was ready to sponsor its own missionaries who took the Christian message to untested Melanesian territories. At long last, under the influence of Christianity, Samoa had a chance to reveal its

one main goal to which they all aspire, that is to make as much profit as possible. In fact profit-making has always been the primary motive behind large companies’ moves to expand their operations to new lands throughout human history. The successful German company of Johann Caesar Godeffroy & Sons was no exception. By the time it decided to invest some of its vast wealth and resources in Samoa, it had already established its fortune and reputation elsewhere in Europe and other parts of the world. Samoa has shown a lot of promise, particularly as a favourite port of call for many European ships and travellers. Its transformation overnight had no doubt attracted foreign interests. The British and the Americans had taken the initiative some years earlier, with evidence of entrepreneurship in its early stage. Samoa’s rich alluvial soil matched by a temperate tropical climate, made it an excellent

Solomon Island men processing copra

place for the cultivation of export crops such as coffee and cocoa. The coconut from which copra is made also grows there in abundance. The oil produced from copra - from which high-value products were made was in good demand from among European markets at the time. By 1855 the Johann Caesar Godeffory & Sons had begun to trade in Apia. A few years later, Apia was made one of its main operation centres in the Pacific. LANDS FOR BULLETS The company soon set itself upon establishing large-scale plantations as the first phase of its operations. In order to secure good arable land for such purpose, its management took advantage of the local political situation. First, there was lack of any central government to legislate the sale of native land to foreign businesses. This allowed for corrupt practices, usually in favour of the buyer. Secondly, there’s a local demand for guns and ammunition amongst the local warring factions. The company has agreed to supply these to the locals in exchange for land that they needed. On the outskirts of Apia alone, about 25,000 acres of good quality land was signed over and cleared for the planting of crops . In the final estimate,

more than 75,000 acres of Samoan land was used by the company for such purpose. HIRED LABOURERS But the introduction of these new farming methods led to a labour problem. The company was soon to find out that the locals were not interested in playing an active role whatsoever. They were too busy with their own domestic affairs. Part of this was to do with the civil war that went on and in which the company had now got involved. The Samoans also considered doing labour work as below their status. Besides, they had not much need for German cash. Matter of fact, they have always been self-sufficient to even be considering working for their living.

counterparts were shipped over across the Pacific for this particular purpose. It was obvious as to who does what in the division of labour. The tending, harvesting and production of crops became the sole task of the hired labourers. The administration was done by its officials through its rank and file. Plantation managers and subordinates right down to the petty officers were mostly German nationals. Moreover, its agents were placed across villages to facilitate business on behalf of the company. Its early success with copra led on to more success with other crops which were added to the export crops menu. In 1866, cotton had become Samoaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading domestic export through the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s effort. THE SMALL TRADER

Now in response to the problem, the company brought in hired labourers from the Solomon Islands and later from far away places as the Chinese mainland. In all about 870 Melanesian males and no less than 3800 Chinese

Chinese men bagging copra

The overall success of the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s operations surely had a trickle-down effect on the small and independent trader. These traders belonged to a tiny sector of the population who dealt directly with the local suppliers at the village level. They purchased copra from the locals then later sold it to Godeffory or other big names for an even profit. In fact, a number of them were contracted to the company as middlemen. This sector was made up largely of foreign nationals who had

taken their chances with both hands in the midst of Samoa’s booming economy. In the end, many were moderately lucky, though a few had become very successful, even long after Godeffroy and Sons ceased its Samoan operations and left due to unavoidable circumstances. APIA: A PORT OF OPPORTUNITY By the end of the 1870s, Apia had changed into a vibrant town upon which some of Europe’s major cultures and nationalities gathered. On the main they represented German, British, Swedish and American interests. They had come for a whole lot of reasons but which were mainly commercial and work-related. For the latecomers - that included a group of carefree young individuals, trying their luck on a newly-opened frontier would have been a natural way to go. After all, their governments had made some serious commitments to the place.

For the world at the time, colonization was the way to go and Germany was at the forefront in its promotion. For example, two years before Felix David departed for Samoa, the German chancellor Otto von Bismarck had organised a world conference which outcome was the Berlin Treaty of 1885 by which the African continent was carved up amongst the European powers including Germany. The scramble for colonies by the big powers had spread out across all continents including Australasia and the Pacific. The goal was to seize as much territory as one possibly could. Irrespective of geographical size and distance the competition for colonies was hotly contested all the same. And it couldn’t be as fierce as the case of Samoa would ultimately prove. Apparently, colonization came with promises of new jobs and fresh opportunities on both sides. Many young Europeans with nothing to lose were lured in easily.

Apia Town in the 1870s

Part 1: Prussia

A BRIEF HISTORY The area known as Prussia was settled and resettled over a number of times through invasions. The name Prussia came to be used after another resettlement around the seventh century. Its early inhabitants were tribes of West Slavic and Baltic origins. In 1226, Prussia was conquered by the Teutonic Knights, a military religious order, who converted the Prussians to Christianity. Finally, they were overthrown by the Prussians with the help of Poland and Lithuania in 1454.

It took the Prussians another 200 years to finally rid themselves of their political overlords and in 1657, with the help of Sweden, established the Kingdom of Prussia. The defeat of France in the Franco-Prussian War of 1871 proved to be the turning point in the history of the German people. It paved the way for the unification of all German speaking states into a republic under the leadership of Prussiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s prime minister, Otto von Bismarck. Wilhelm II was declared emperor of Germany and Bismarck its first Chancellor.

PRUSSIAN HERITAGE

a lot of Prussian Jews simply adopted their fathers or grandfathers’ given names as their surnames, though on most occasions they were simply forced to. The ‘forced’ option had been the case for the majority of Jews who lived in the country towns and villages.

Felix David (pronounced DAH-veed) was a Prussian lad, born and bred in one of its towns. Evidence to certify the actual town or place could not be found save for the birth date which was 1868. His parents’ names were Rudolf and Meta David. We learnt from Felix himself that he was the only child.

Based on that premise of Jewishness, it seemed most likely that the first generation of Davids had immigrated to Prussia and settled there. The majority of these early Jewish emigrants came from Poland and Russia. Thus by the time Mr and Mrs Rudolf David decided to start a family they were well and truly integrated into German life as was the true purpose of the legislation. Steeped in Prussian military values of valour, loyalty and discipline, Mr Rudolf David was a military man himself, highly decorated and a loyal son of Prussia who served his country well until he retired.

Not much is known about the family origins either. The name David is not German, it is Jewish naturally and must have been Germanised to satisfy the law of the land which demanded that Jews adopted ‘a firm German surname’ like the rest of the population. Historically, Jews did not have permanent family surnames. This had posed a problem for leaders of countries in which they settled for reasons that were mainly administrative. The solution was through legislation. For instance, Austria passed a law in 1787 demanding that all Jews adopt a German surname. Names derived from Hebrew were no longer permitted and had to be legally changed. (The Austrian emperor some years earlier had decreed that the Jewish language and writing be abolished).

State law required that each and every able-bodied man in Prussia must be a national soldier ‘without respect to rank or person.’ Thus when Felix reached the age to enlist, he joined the army, commencing as a private, making his way up to the ranks of infantry and was discharged after serving a year mostly as a reservist. He had no plans to carve a career in the army like

Soon other German states followed Austria’s example. In 1812, Prussia passed a similar law. Given the options,

parents’ best interests. His father in particular would never approve of his son’s career choice. As Felix would refer to many years after, he took it upon himself the task of his own training when his parents renewed their objections.

A Prussian infantry unit

his father so as to follow family tradition. Back at his parents place, he tried to revive a boyhood dream, hoping to turn it into a full-time career. A BOY’S AMBITION As a young boy, Felix had always wanted to become an operatic baritone. The Germans had never been short of music talents in the form of composers, singers and performers. In fact they’ve had a fair share of the best in the business. Many of them were idols adored by their own country folk and the world over. Whilst he had received basic tutoring on piano and singing like many young Prussian lads of the period, the idea of a singing career for their son was never in the

Faced with a bleak prospect, he gave up any hope of pursuing his boyhood dream job. We can only speculate on how much this conflict of interests between son and parents impinged on his decision to pursue a new career path in Samoa soon after. FINDING A WAY OUT Also on the social front, things at home weren’t as good due to continual warfare in which Prussia had been directly involved. Prior to its becoming a unified nation in 1871, the German states had been fighting each other for years.

The Prussian kingdom as it were on the map

Prussian leaders were at the forefront of a movement to unify all states which main language was German. Yet years of wars had robbed peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s morale. The destruction of industries and infrastructure by the enemy had led to the breakdown of services and the average folk were the most affected. The long wars against France had taken a heavy toll on the population socially and psychologically. Overall it had created a climate of instability, inequality and fear and people were looking for a way out. Emigration was the answer and so the average German folk were leaving in thousands for a better life in America or elsewhere. ARRIVALS & CAMPS Felix Bernhardt David arrived in Apia in 1887. Apia was the hub and meeting place for all new arrivals from Europe. Not much is known about his whereabout on his first year of residence. He could have found employment quickly. He could have met his wife to be immediately upon arrival and decided to get settled. We can safely presume that he was in the good company of either friends, a sponsor or even relations who had successfully settled in Apia earlier. By then Apia had already showed signs of a divisive town. Political rivalry

between the three big powers were already at play in Samoan local affairs. The German authority in Apia seemed to be flexing its muscles more than the other two, and had at one stage assumed total control of Apia. A boundary line was drawn. On one side were the British and the American camps, on the other, German. Other smaller camps, including the afakasi, (half-castes) have been caught in the middle. The term afakasi referred specifically to offsprings of mixed unions between Europeans and the locals. For the fact that the majority of European immigrants were males, this naturally implied that the locals were predominantly females. (In the census of 1910, 1003 locals were identified as part-Samoans of alien or European status). AFAKASI The afakasi had been the subject of some serious observations during the colonial period for reasons that were mainly foreign rather than local. For generations the Samoans had been on an intermarriage course with their Polynesian cousins and Melanesians also; and when the first European men arrived and got settled, they were given Samoan wives on the basis or merits which were quite different from those of the Europeans.

‘Mixed-marriages’ therefore was a European issue. The Christian church through its missionaries frowned at the practice and discouraged it as much as they could. Both the German and New Zealand administrations would pass laws to suppress it. The subject was to become a hot issue for successive colonial administrations. As the outcome would reveal, this group was caught in the midst of a racial policy which impact on many of them had been no less than profound. From its early days, only a small number of afakasi had settled in and around Apia. By the 1860s the number had grown rapidly, particularly when Apia was transformed into a port of call and centre of business. Still the majority of them were scattered evenly

across the islands. Distinguished only by a feature or two of their European genes, the majority had been integrated successfully into the Samoan culture and way of life. By the second and third generations, they would become more Samoan and less afakasi - or European for that matter. Meanwhile, during this period of divided loyalty, its members were more or less subordinate to the three main camps on the basis of blood ties and or political loyalty. By all means, they were as much freer to liaise and socialise with any of the three main groups as they wished. It wasn’t until much later that they would come to play a prominent role in Samoan national politics under the stewardship of one, Mr Olaf Frederick Nelson.

A European gentleman courting a Samoan lady as depicted in a postcard of the period

Part 2: Upolu

TUA MET FELIX According to family sources, Felix David met Tua Hall, a part-European girl from a village in Falealili and they decided to live together. Careful speculation is applied as of when and how they met due to the absence of any hard evidence. One family source affirmed though that the two met soon after Felix arrived in town. Apia would have been the ideal location for any such meeting. It was the only place in the country where Europeans

and afakasi came together to meet, do business and socialise. THE HALLS Shortly after they met (and married possibly), Felix joined his wife and in-laws at their family residence in Falealili. Tuaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s father Joseph Hall was American. Family sources described him as a sea-faring adventurer who practised dentistry as a skill. One source traced his family line and origins back to Carson County in

Los Angeles, California of the US mainland. As a young sailor, he travelled widely around the Pacific islands doing his trade mostly for free. On a visit to Samoa he decided to settle at Matautu, Falealili where he married Sailiese, daughter of Tupuola, a high-ranking chief of that village. Mr Joseph Hall quickly adopted the role of middleman between the village and the colonial authorities. When the German company Rugue Hedelmann & Company built a trading station in the centre of Falealili district, Joseph Hall seized the opportunity and established himself as a copra supplier. The success of his business was evident in his possession of a horse carriage and a ‘large’ schooner by which dried copra and other cash crops were transported to the Rugue Hedelmann station. He also bred fine race horses which were later sold overseas to the highest bidders, according to family sources. His introduction of horses to the village led to the relaxing of its rules which had banned the use of horses for years. Described as charitable in his approach to the locals, Mr Hall still found time to practise his dentistry skill on the locals who sought his help. On her mother’s side, not much details were found concerning the person of Sailiese Tupuola. She would

only be identifed as the mother of Tua and daughter of Tupuola. Family sources all agreed that she was the same person who married Joseph Hall Snr and bore for him two children, a girl named Tua, who was to become the future wife of Felix David, and a boy Joseph Junior, who married a local girl named Mavaega Pau Vaatila from a neighbouring village. MOVING HOUSES In or about 1888, Felix and Tua David moved from Matautu and settled in Vaovai, a neighbouring village. The move might have been commercially driven. This could well be given the fact that the couple were outsiders who had no blood ties nor cultural rights to be establishing themselves there. Vaovai was nestled between two larger and much older settlements of Poutasi to the west and Matautu to the east. Almost enclosed by water from all sides, the village has a wide and open seafront with an even spread of deep lagoons, making it a favourite spot for passing schooners to berth while passengers went ashore or simply took their afternoon rest. The LMS mission had long established a church there. By any trader’s account, the location couldn’t have been more ideal for doing business.

SETTLING IN With no entitlements to land by heritage, the couple bought a piece of land from a local high-ranking chief upon which they built a house to live. Tua’s younger brother joined them shortly after. Vaatila, a family source spoke about this period of the David’s settling in as exciting for the villagers which they also considered an honour. It was in the new village that the couple’s three children were raised. Two boys - Asaelu the eldest, Niko in the middle and the youngest, a girl named Lata. Niko was born in 1889, the year in which the momentous hurricane raged. His brother was born the year before and his sister two years after. Felix and Tua settled in well in their new village surrounding, thanks to the hospitality of their host village and Tua’s family. The village elders were supportive of their next plan of building a trading store by the beachfront. Upon completion, it was opened for business immediately. Throughout the

day the villagers brought in their loads of coconuts which were traded for imported goods such as soap, clothes, kerosene, canned food and a variety of farming equipments. The mature coconuts were husked and transported to the Halls at Matautu for the final stage of their processing into copra. Soon two other neighbouring villages joined ranks as coconut suppliers also. They brought their cargoes of coconuts from ‘anywhere - the back waters, from the sea and by land,’ according to one source. ‘Everyone’s got something to do,’ Niko recalled. Niko believed that the success of the family business was the ‘factor’ behind a similar initiative in the village not long after. SINEVA By then a young woman named Sineva had joined in as a new member of the David household. The figure of Sineva is shrouded in mystery. According to Niko, the family usually referred to her as ‘o le tei o Tavita - David’s relation.’ By Niko’s account, she spoke good German and was a great language tutor. Yet the fact that Felix was the only child of his parents would dismiss this claim altogether, even if such claim is made in the way Samoans referred to their cousins and cousins’ children as tei all the same. The name sounded European although it was

genuinely Samoan too (si neva refers to somebody who wanders about aimlessly). Whatever the truth was, what is established for sure is the fact that it was during her stay with Felix and his family that she met her husband to be, a former navy personnel turned sole trader by the name of Emil Huch. EMIL HUCH

A trading schooner

Family sources affirmed that Mr Huch’s schooner frequented Vaovai’s lagoons soon after he met Felix and his family. The meetings resulted in a matrimonial union between Mr Emil Huch and Sineva, a member of Felix’s household. Mr and Mrs Huch soon bought a piece of land in the village just as Felix and Tua had done before, and started a family of their own. Niko had fond memories of the two families sharing picnic lunches on a quiet side of the beach or on board Mr Huch’s schooner in those early years. His father and Mr Huch would spend endless afternoon hours chatting noisily in their German dialect ‘as if they owned the place’, still to the delights of an attentive audience.

Mr Emil Huch was originally German, born Heinrich Martin Emil Huch in the city of Hamburg in 1860. As a young man, he decided very early on to migrate to the United States. He first arrived in Samoa in 1881 on board the USS Lackawanna. He was an enlisted man in the US Navy at the time. Upon discharge from his duties, he decided to return to Samoa on his new status as a naturalized US citizen. First, he registered himself as a sole trader. With the help of influential friends in business, he managed to secure a work contract for Rugue Hedelmann & Company, then considered the secondlargest German export operation on the islands. The contract allowed him to become a supplier of copra for one of its main stations at Falealili district. With the savings he’d made during his naval service, he bought a moderatesize second-hand schooner. And with a crew to man it, he went straight into business.

The Huchs raised eight children. Their eldest daughter Ane married a local high-ranking chief. Emily, another daughter, married a Fijian of royal lineage. She later remarried a Mr Brebner by which she had two children, Vincent, a boy and a girl named Lily.

Described by one source as a man of ‘sterling character, quiet, unassuming, and devoted to his family,’ Mr Emil Huch went on to become a very successful businessman after his trading days with Rugue Hedelmann & Co. He became a hotelier and investor in a couple of business partnerships when the family moved to live in Apia. In 1905, Mr Huch remarried Nellie Coe, a daughter of a renowned British settler Jonas Coe, when his wife Sineva and mother of their eight children, died after a long illness. Mr Huch died on August 31, 1927, and was buried at the Magiagi Cemetery. A NEW TYPE OF CHIEF In due time Felix David was to take his new lifestyle to another level when he was bestowed a chiefly title. His son Niko recalled the occasion vividly. ‘There was a party of government guests present,’ he said. The title of Sogimalepuavai was bestowed by a high-ranking chief of the district in return for his professional service to the chief and his village. This was the same chief whose land the Davids had bought earlier to build their home on. The chief later married the eldest daughter of Sineva. Both mother and daughter were former members of Felix David’s household, devoted relations as he always referred to them.

The bestowal of a matai title in the Samoan customs, especially a chiefly one brought with it customary benefits associated with this honourable tradition. Irrespective of his foreign background, the deed has now made Felix David a legitimate holder of a customary title with life membership in the village matai council. More importantly, by virtue of holding a title, it made him a customary shareholder on village land in the same vein a local matai would. The initiation also served as a clear indication of their being fully accepted by their local village folk. Their children, who were born and bred there, had every right to call Vaovai their home. Life couldn’t be better for the couple during their first ten years until Felix David decided to leave his wife and family for another relationship. SERIOUS TROUBLE Felix David stayed in Vaovai for about fourteen years. His tenure coincided with a series of major political developments concerning the governance of the islands. Matter of fact, international politics were at play on a grand scale resulting in a state of total disarray. Tensions in the relations between the three nations had been brewing for quite some time. All three had been quilty of getting too involved in the

March. It sank six warships saved one, a British vessel called Calliope managed to escape the fury of the storm and returned home safely. Thus through Nature’s intervention, a real war was averted. Malietoa Laupepa

Mata’afa Iosefo

Samoans own affairs. Each had attempted to get the upper hand over the other by any means, symbolic or even worse, siding up with one of the local warring factions. Mata’afa and Malietoa were two warring chiefs. Each had a claim on the title tafa’ifa, Samoa’s ‘sole ruler.’ By 1888, Great Britain had formed a coalition with the Americans. They supported Malietoa. Germany had sided with Mata’afa. By the end of that year, the ‘big three’ had exchanged indirect blows through their roles in the locals’ civil war. As it followed, none could avoid inflicting harm directly on the other any longer. Left with no other choice, all sides called for a full-scale and direct confrontation. In early March 1889, the first of the seven warships arrived - three German, three American, one British. Each had found a berthing spot at Apia Harbour. All within striking distance of the others.

KAISER COUNTRY It took another ten years for the three big powers to finally agree on a permanent solution. Called the Berlin Treaty, Samoa will be divided in two halves, one for the Americans, the other for the Germans. The Americans took the eastern islands later to be called American Samoa. Germany was given the western islands, later to be named Western Samoa. The German flag was hoisted on the first of March, 1900, marking the beginning of German rule. It was a proud day for all German nationals including Felix David. He was one amongst the throng who gathered at Mulinuu Point to witness this momentous event. The

Hoisting of the German flag at Mulinuu, 1900

A hurricane struck on the 15th of

celebrations went on for the whole week and Niko recalled that his father didn’t return home until a week after. When he returned finally, he successfully persuaded his father-in-law to go back with him to Apia the following week. According to Niko, he said he’s got an affluent businessman from Germany he wanted the old man to meet. ‘It sounded good business to Old Joe, and so everyone boarded the schooner and we sailed,’ Niko remarked. They ended up staying two weeks at the Huchs home in Apia. The same feat was repeated on the Kaiser’s birthday. Again they ended up at the Huchs place,

spending more time with them. Mrs Huch had been sick lately and she needed the Davids company. The western islands would become German country for another 13 years until power was transferred once more by force. This time it was the New Zealand military that took over. Many German settlers were taken back to their country against their wishes. A handful of them stayed on, mostly men who had already married Samoan women and raised own families. Felix David belonged to the handful that stayed.

Apia on the eve of the hurricane

Part 3: Savaii

JOSEPHINE No one knows exactly why Felix David left his first wife and family. His son Niko was casual rather, ‘Boredom perhaps. Maybe this place gets too small for him.’ But he recalled that his father’s departure had coincided with his native country’s inauguration as the sole ruler of Samoa’s western islands. Niko’s own speculation was that the occasion probably had something to do with his decision to move on. Other

family sources had their own ideas too. Records revealed that he married Josephine Nelson in 1902. So he must have made his move to Safune at some point earlier. Like himself, his new spouse was a recent divorcee who had a brief union with another European national of the name Herman Rieling. Josephine was the eldest daughter of a Swedish trader named August Nielsen. He came to Samoa in 1868 after having tried his luck with the

gold-mining rush first in the Hokitika Ranges, New Zealand then Australia, with moderate success. Upon arrival, he went straight into copra business. In 1878, he settled at Safune where he met and married Sina Masoe Tugaga, a local woman from a family of good standing in that village. AUGUST NELSON Mr August Nielsen (or Nelson as was later to be spelt) belonged to a group of self-made businessmen who had adapted well to their new environment. Starting off small in a trading partnership, he built his fortune through the use of a good business strategy and a highly supportive network of family and friends. Whilst the centre of trading was on Upolu Island at the time, he was one of those who made Savaii the mainstay of their business operations early on. With the help of his son, Olaf Frederick Nelson, who later took charge of the business, his was to

August Nelson

become one of a few who made it big in the capital of Apia in the end. At least forty trading stations came under its sphere of direct influence according to one source. His son took the business to new heights but then later on turned to politics in which he would be best remembered as the leader of Samoa’s Mau movement. Mr August Nelson died in Apia in 1909. SAFUNE Safune is a traditional district made up of three main villages. In the old days the boundary lines between the three villages weren’t as distinct as they are today. People then would refer to the whole of Safune as a village. In today’s political landscape, it lies within the constituency of Gagaifomauga. The place is renowned both in Polynesian mythology and local legends. In the village of Matavai is the natural spring pool associated with the mythological tale of Sina and the Eel, Samoa’s own story of the origin of the coconut plant. According to Samoan oral traditions, Safune was founded by a local warrior named Fune. As village upon village came under his control, they called the new formation, Safune, or the family of Fune. He went on establish his own government and is believed to have

O.F. Nelson

been the first holder of the Le Tagaloa chiefly title in the island of Savaii. Many reports are found in Samoa’s oral record about Fune the legend, most of which referred to a leader who wielded a lot of power over his people and others. The name Funefe’ai, which people used to refer to him, truly revealed a fearsome character.

The Nelson family home at Tuaefu

Such an advantage, coupled with the legendary hospitality of its people, attracted foreigners to the place. Even beachcombers who were on the run from authority long before the missionaries arrived were sheltered. During the missionary enterprise in the 1830s and onward, Safune became one of the main stations of the LMS religious government on the island of Savaii. During its colonial heydays, it had featured strongly as a favourite hosting centre for government visitors, also frequented by white traders and locals alike. When an American filmmaker chose the place as the location for his film in the early 1920s, he did so on a friend’s advice. Indeed Safune hasn’t lost much of its visual beauty and traditional appeal, as he and his crew would find it out for themselves.

would have been a familiar routine of serious duty he’s been accustomed to in his former life at Falealili. There was a family business to attend to and a new brother-in-law in Mr Olaf Frederick Nelson, a young promising manager albeit untested who might have confided in him as a senior on business matters. Outgoing, his matai status and competency with the local language would have put him in good stead with the villagers. Whatever the case, he would have quickly made his presence felt. From the records their first child was baptised at Sala’ilua, one of the children was born at Leulumoega, the others at Apia, which strongly suggested that the family must have been on the move often, managing the trading stores of his new in-laws on both islands.

NEW LODGINGS

On the parental front, he would have to get used to raising a new family of young ones once again. As the records affirmed, he had sired at least five

Meanwhile we can safely presume that Felix David’s new life with the Nelsons

healthy children by Josephine in this second union. The marriage lasted 16 years when his wife died, victim of a global influenza pandemic that ravaged the islands during that period. Almost all families lost loved ones. The Nelsons lost four. About a quarter of Samoa’s population was wiped out, and it still stands as the worst event to happen in Samoa’s history to date. Josephine died on November 25, 1918, age 37.

film Nanook of the North. Focused on the life of a tribe of Eskimos, it turned out to be a success in America and later the major cities of Europe. The US Paramount Pictures then turned to Mr Flaherty for the making of its next project regarding the South Pacific. As it turned out, Samoa was chosen as the film location. The theme was the faa-Samoa (Samoan culture). Before Mr Flaherty and his travel party departed for Apia, he had sought the advice of a Mr Frederick O’Brien, an experienced travel-writer who visited Samoa earlier and a former sojourner at Safune. His travel book ‘White Shadows in the South Seas’ (1919) had created a lot of interest among American readers on indigenous peoples of the South Pacific. It was Mr O’Brien who recommended Safune to the filmmaker as the ideal location for his film.

SAFUNE ON FILM

Robert J. Flaherty

A reputable American filmmaker by the name of Robert J. Flaherty arrived in Apia in April 1923. He has already made his mark internationally in the

Two important factors seemed to have influenced Mr Flaherty to go with his friend’s advice. First, his was an eyewitness account of the ideal setting that he was looking for in his film. ‘This location couldn’t be better, it hasn’t been tainted much by western influence,’ his friend advised. Secondly, the presence of a white settler in Safune will work to his advantage. His name is Felix David. In a letter to his filmmaker friend, Mr O’Brien gave this

idyllic description of Felix David: ‘In the village of Safune there lived one white man who knew the Polynesians and their language and would therefore be invaluable.’ The writer was once a beneficiary to the good care of this host. It was only natural therefore that Mr O’Brien would recommend this man’s service to his American friend also. To make his offer more convincing, O’Brien promised that he will write Mr Felix David a letter of introduction on his friend’s behalf. SAMOAN HOSPITALITY Mr Flaherty was accompanied by his wife Frances, their three young child-ren, his younger brother David Flaherty who took the role of film production manager, and last but not least, a nursemaid who came to be popular with the host villagers because of her red-haired Irish trademark. (Hence the nickname Mumu or Red by the locals). The travel party arrived and stayed in Apia for a while. Then they boarded a schooner and headed straight towards Savaii. They arrived at Safune waters on an early fine morning. Mr Robert J. Flaherty described their first moments of contact vividly: “When the schooner finally berthed at the long, slender finger of a wharf, we could see the white-clad figure of the man we had come so far to meet.

From the upper verandah he gazed at us through binoculars. The natives streamed down the wharf and gave us the friendly welcome that so endears one to the Polynesians.” With the villagers help, Mr Flaherty and travel party finally made their way onto Mr David’s top deck with all their luggage and film equipments. Upon introducing themselves to their host, they were guided into an open verandah where their first welcome feast will be served. Spread out on the table was a “vast breakfast of food-mummy apples, breadfruit, pineapples, coconuts, a roast wild pig, and the rarest of rare mangoes.” The waitresses were “lovely” young girls, “naked to the waist, who fanned the guests,” and in one corner a group of boys who “sang with their eyes half-closed and slapping their hands in rhythm.” Mr Flaherty was so impressed with the welcome, or rather his host’s lavish lifestyle and influence over the locals that he devoted a fair share of attention to him in his writings. Felix had arranged another meeting so he could introduce Mr Flaherty and his travel party to the village chiefs who accepted them and gave the project their blessings. The fact that Felix had arranged the meeting and introduced the visitors to the chiefs lent support to Mr O’Brien’s

assertion about the former’s knowledge of the Samoan language and culture. This versatility in languages is also alluded to in Mr Flaherty’ report concerning his use of English also. The filmmaker went on to quote him verbatim at one stage in English. They held many conversations in Felix’s place. It was from these late evening sessions that Mr Flaherty was able to learn more about his charismatic host. SKETCHING A PORTRAIT Flaherty ascertained that Felix David was the only European in Safune at the time. By description, his host had a commanding presence. His hair was white and had a moustache ‘in the Kaiser Wilhelm style.’ The Safune villagers showed him a lot of respect and seemed to obey ‘his every command.’ He called himself ‘king of the island.’ He lived on his own, with villagers who worked for him inside and around his place close to the sea. He had a pair of binoculars which he used to study the ships coming in or leaving. His drink was mummy apple beer.

Kaiser Wilhelm 2

(His excess drinking usually led to bouts of despondent reminiscences over a great music career that would have been). Kept in his spacious living room was a gallery of old lithographs and chromos, framed photographs of great figures of the German stages and opera of the 1880s. A very large painting of his father dominated the wall, an imposing figure in full Prussian military attire, with a familiar trademark of the time - a moustache, modelled on the Kaiser’s own to complete. Mr Flaherty also noted having seen a piano at one corner of the living room with music notes lying around randomnly.

VILLAGE ENTERTAINER The above scene strongly indicated that even after he left Europe, Felix David had all the while continued reviving his singing passion - and doing so no matter the place or circumstance. Thus when he arrived at Safune and got settled, he quickly modelled himself as a grand entertainer from Europe. He started to organise his own shows in front of his host village. The word spread and soon people from neighbouring villages joined in too.

His singing featured Siegfried’s works and other German masters. From Flaherty’s wry estimate, he must have been doing this ‘five thousand times’ but the villagers ‘always came back for more.’ This bold display of talent and skills would earn himself the respect and admiration of the locals many times over.

Samoan meeting houses

was disclosed to the Safune elders they returned the favour with no less amount of contempt. Mr Flaherty knew that something must be done quickly. He’s come to learn of how volatile a situation such as this could be between Samoan villages. Then he turned to his friend Felix David for help.

CLEVER FACILITATOR Mr Flaherty’s first task was to find the right cast for his film. The search for the heroine was limited to only one small group of individuals. A taupou in Samoa is a principal maiden who is a daughter of a high-ranking chief in the village. Because of her rank and beauty she is given preferential treatment and a lot of attention. Soon his search for a taupou came to the attention of Safune’s village elders. They came to Flaherty (or Lopati as he was called by the villagers after his first name) with their offer, Safune’s own taupou. Mr Flaherty had already noted the taupou by chance and wasn’t so impressed. He thanked them for their offer but then politely declined. The ideal taupou was found in a neighbouring village of Sasina two days later. Her name was Taioa. After meeting her, Mr Flaherty believed that she was perfect for the part. But when the news

Some time after, a band of chiefs from Sasina approached, making their way through Safune. They had brought their taupou over to be presented formally to Mr Flaherty as is the local custom. As they approached, Flaherty noticed that something wasn’t quite right: not one Safune soul was in sight, the host village seemed deserted and house blinds had been drawn down. This is a sign of trouble. Only during war times would such a habit emerge. The travel party can be ambushed any time. Anyhow they managed to arrive at Mr Flaherty’s doorstep safely. Having done with their business they left, leaving Taioa with the Flahertys.

What he witnessed that morning was a symbolic gesture from Safune villagers, showing their protest against Flaherty’s decision. Having chosen a taupou from another village over their own is uncustomary and at worst humiliating. Anything of this nature is serious business to the Samoans. Later on when Mr Flaherty asked Felix how he pulled the whole drama together, he replied, ‘It was simple. I just asked the chiefs of Safune if they wanted you to go and make the picture at Sasina. They were so infuriated by this idea that they at once agreed to allow you to bring here and use the taupou from Sasina.’ FAAGASE OF SAFUNE The rest of the story about the filmmaker’s search for his heroine will have made for a great local comic act that matched Samoan humour perfectly. As it turned out, Taioa, the leading lady had eloped with a local Safune male. Her replacement, a girl named Saulelia, couldn’t complete the act because she has lost her long hair. She was deserted by her lover and shaving her hair was part of her grieving according to customs. The third and final pick was a local Safune girl named Faagase. Her induction even was not without a fair share of distraction for the filmmaker.

Actress Faagase

As a daughter of a higher-ranking chief, her presence demanded special responsibilities on all parties involved. It also had created a rift between the two sectors of the village: the chiefs of common status on their side of the village, and the chiefs of the high-class hierarchy on their side of the village. Mr Flaherty couldn’t understand why. At one stage he was asked one dreary night to escort a group from the high-class camp to their side of the village for fear that they might be ambushed by the commoners. To make matters worse, the high-class camp to whom Faagase’s father belonged had threatened to pull Faagase out of the film production. This did not eventuate and to the filmmaker’s satisfaction, his heroine stayed on until the last shooting was completed.

LIVING TOGETHER During their stay the Flahertys had found themselves drawn more to their hosts’ culture and their traditional way of living. The three young children had picked up the local vernacular naturally. They had fashioned their dresses on the locals’ and mingled freely with their peers. The couple even allowed their children to be tutored on traditional skills such as weaving that produced a wide range of popular artifacts. Mr Flaherty also had decided to give more attention to Mr David. Despite his keen observations earlier, he still hadn’t quite come to understand his enigmatic friend. He had started to sense a rift between them as the months went by. He had noticed that when he put on a film for the villagers’ entertainment, not once but a few times had he spotted his friend standing up against the bright beam from the projector and shook his fist in protest. This was his way of showing his disapproval, according to Flaherty. No doubt that another white man’s presence and growing influence had changed relationships suddenly. He had noticed how the Flahertys had taken the villagers’ attention away from him as the days went by. This shift in people’s affection would have been too much for a proud, self-promoted

man to bear. It seemed that he had been beaten in his own game by a better showman with a new set of skills. As it followed, Felix David would become less cooperative than he used to, and in the end the two men would part company less amicably. MURDER IN PARADISE Meanwhile, just as the film production was drawing to a close, something serious happened that seemed poised to seal the fates of the two showmen, either for better or for worse. This involved two local boys who were part of Mr Flaherty’s production team. They were charged with the murder of another young man from the village of Sataua. The victim had visited Safune as a member of a government travel party. He made some improper advances on one of the local girls whose married status came with customary taboos and protection of her village. When confronted by the two boys, the victim decided to pick a fight. As it turned out, one of the boys thrusted a bullet-tipped cane into the victim’s neck. Despite the amount of attention he was given by friends and a local doctor, he died eventually. In such a situation, the village of the victim had every right to avenge the death of their loved one. The terms of

when and how such an act is delivered is theirs alone. The ageless principle of life for a life had long been applied by the Samoans to preserve their family and village honours. Soon the whole village was turned into a fortress. Women and children were removed from their homes and taken to hideaway shelters. All men would form a night watch - patrolling and guarding through the night, waiting for an invasion that will come. At the Flaherty’s lodgings, their precious treasure, in the form of film negatives - an immense amount of them, was packed in wooden chests and placed on the verandah. The family members including Mr Flaherty, took turns guarding the chests with a shotgun. To everyone’s relief - the Flahertys in particular, the invasion didn’t come. Human intervention with a divine connection had taken place. The truth was revealed some time afterwards by Newton Rowe, an LMS missionary who was stationed at Falealupo. By his account, it was Father Haller of the Catholic Mission who actually stopped a boat load of Sataua men who intended to lead the attack. Thus the Sataua villagers were agreeable for a while to let the Apia authorities sort it out in a much better and more civilized manner. In the end, the two Safune boys were found quilty of manslaughter but not

murder. Imo, the boy who committed the deed was sentenced to 5 years in prison. His associate in the crime, Samuelu, served six months. At least the victim’s family and supporters were appeased. The matter had now come to rest as far as all parties were concerned. It took almost two years for Robert J. Flaherty to produce the film Moana on its Samoan locations, and another six months or so in the States to go through a gruelling process of editing before the final cut. On its release it received rave reviews. It was hailed as a pure work of art, depicting life on

A promotion poster of the film: Moana

the South Sea Islands in all its marvellous beauty and true form. A New York movie critic Mr Grierson coined the word ‘documentary’ as he attempted to classify the film’s genre. The term stuck and Moana is dubbed as the world’s first documentary in the true sense of the term. Mr Flaherty’s own report of the whole project and experience was informative and fascinating as it was warm and witty from his viewpoint as a lived-in artist and a very talented filmmaker. THE FINAL ACT It was during the ‘boys trial’ that relations between the filmmaker and Felix David broke down completely. Whilst the trial was running, a rumour had spread that Mr David had made the two boys drunk prior to the incident. This information, had it made its way to court and counted as part of the evidence, would have had a direct bearing on the verdict’s outcome more so the reputation of the accused. Felix David was furious, accusing the Flaherty’s camp as the instigator. Mr Flaherty’s brother, David Flaherty would have to diffuse a very tense situation by declaring Mr David’s innocence. The truth finally came out that the two boys had themselves created the rumour. Thus when Felix David learnt that Mr Flaherty had

Village of Matautu Savaii, where Savaii’s resident commissioner

written a letter in support of his two former employees, he voiced his protest to the resident commissioner at once, accusing the Flahertys of ‘obstructing the course of justice.’ It wasn’t surprising therefore that when the resident commissioner was implicated in a sex scandal that involved young males, Mr Flaherty quickly pointed a finger at Mr David. It related to another rumour that Mr David and the resident commissioner were more than just friends; allegedly they were engaged in homosexual activity. An investigation team was launched from Apia with the task of verifying the charges against the commissioner. On his part, the resident commissioner decided to take his own life rather than accept the terms laid down by the chief administrator. Spurred on by the severity of the commissioner’s response, the investigation team went ahead and arrested Felix David

at Safune. He was taken to Apia and trialled but later acquitted. Evidence in support of the charges made against him had been inconclusive. However the judge ruled that his continual presence in Savaii won’t serve the goals of peace and harmony on the island. The court had no choice but deliver the sentence of life banishment. He would nevet set foot on Savaii again while he lived. The reference to ‘goals of peace and harmony’ as not served was unclear from the judge’s viewpoint. Perhaps what was clear to the judge, as one source pointed out, was that of Felix David’s reputation as a ‘local stirrer’ and vocal critic of the New Zealand Administration. Arguably his close ties to O.F. Nelson and his protest movement supporters would have counted against him still in a very biased court of law of the period. He spent his final years with relations at Apia, frequenting the homes of

the Huchs, the Nelsons and old acquaintances. He continued to defend himself against the serious allegations made against him to the end. When he died on June 18, 1931, the Apia authority wouldn’t object when his corpse was taken back to Savaii for burial. He was buried at Safune the day following. NB Felix David never saw his children at Falealili again since the day he left. There is no evidence either to prove that he went back to see his family in Germany. It was left to his children to restore such familial contact in a different form though. Upon learning that one of his half-brothers lived at Leulumoega, Niko paid him a visit. Further contacts were made involving other half-siblings during the midfifties and even into the mid-sixties when Niko was alive.

Epilogue

TUA SILO’A FAAMANU Tua continued to live at Vaovai when Felix left the family, looking after her children as her first duty. She remarried early, probably for the sake of her children rather than her own. Her three children had entered into their early teens and apparently she needed the support of a partner who could play the role of a father figure for them. Her sibling brother had long left the household with own family to raise. The urgency of the need perhaps would mean that

the search for a new partner shouldn’t be too much of a problem. The man that she chose was a local from the neighbouring village whom she would have had a better chance of meeting and knowing well some years before. She was quite aware of traditions: that marrying a local man was frowned upon by both sides alike. For her personally, the case of Ane couldn’t be closer to home. Ane, Sineva’s daughter was deserted by her Samoan courtier because his family wouldn’t approve.

Despite the odds, or luckily for herself perhaps, her new suitor was quite the opposite: a simple untitled man of moderate means and family status. His name was Silo’a Faamanu. From family sources, theirs was a happy couple, even though he wouldn’t sire an offspring by Tua in their union. He tried to revive the family business at one stage but Tua ‘had no more heart in it.’ He too proved to be a good stepfather to Tua’s children. According to family sources, Silo’a Faamanu died early and Tua was to form a brief union with another local man. Once settled with Silo’a, Tua’s next move was to reclaim the matai title of Sogimalepuavai and all the rights pertaining to on behalf of her children. With her former husband gone, she she could see signs of trouble looming as a consequence of his unceremonious leaving. There’s talk in the village of surrendering village land back over which had been alloted under the Sogi title. Even then nobody dared rock the boat out of deference to a district high chief who had granted and sanctioned the title. Tua quickly sought the advice of Ane, her relation, and spouse of Meleisea Fili, a high-ranking chief of Poutasi

and the same chief who had granted Felix David the rights to hold the title primarily. With their support, the matter was clarified. As heirs, Tua’s children had the sole rights to choose anybody as a guardian of the title until such time when one of them is ready to take the role. Upon the advice of the high chief and his spouse, Tua, on her children’s behalf, chose her brother Joseph Jnr over her husband. Joseph Hall Junior became the holder of the Sogimalepuavai title for the next ten years. He willingly relinquished the title and its responsibilites when his nephew, Niko, then in his early twenties, was ready to take over. Tua lived on to see her children raised their own families. She died in her late seventies according to family sources. NIKO Niko was the second child of Tua and Felix David. He had an older brother and a younger sister. Niko is an un-familiar name. Whilst his brother’s name was biblical, his sister’s was Polynesian definitely. His name would have derived from the popular European Nicholas possibly. Born and bred at Vaovai, his early schooling was through the local LMS mission and his own parents. He learnt from his father

the basics of the German vernacular, or the frequently used phrases for communication inside the home. As Niko recalled, his father insisted that all his children must speak good German. The older members of the household like his uncle Joseph Junior (Joe) and Sineva, were asked to contribute to the children’s instructions. He detested these language sessions. This was due to his attitude to German as a difficult language. He recalled his father talking about sending them to Germany for schooling. At first the thought of going made him and his siblings very excited but then it hit home that they were going to be away for a long time and on their own. He was glad when his father no longer raised the subject. In retrospect, he admitted that he dreaded the thought of going to a foreign place and learning a language that he was never keen to learn in the first place. As he reflected upon his early life many years after, a young village boy who lived many miles away from Apia had very limited career prospects. Only a few would be lucky to become village pastors or teachers. The rest would follow in their fathers’ footsteps, groomed as future leaders (matai) of their families and villages through the principle of pay your due first through

service to family and community. But on the other hand, he counted himself fortunate to have had the opportunities many of his peers didn’t have. Even without his father, his maternal grandfather offered him apprenticeships on as many skills as he wished. His grandfather Joseph Hall Senior taught him and his brother a lot. From boating skills to horse grooming to clerical duties, even lessons in dentistry - his own trademark skill. Niko recalled steering his grandfather’s schooner as the best of his many apprenticeship experiences. ‘He’s had so much to offer us,’ Niko remarked favourably on his maternal grandfather. For the better part of their late teenage years, all the three siblings were proud employees of the Hall’s family business. But before the 1920s ended, the business had halted all its operations. Like many other small businesses of the period, the demise of the Hall’s own came as a result of big closures, particularly German companies upon which the lifeblood of smaller ones had depended solely. Family sources believed that when Joseph Hall Senior died some years before, the business died too. Niko reflected on its demise philosophically. ‘It has served the family well, that was its true purpose,’ he said. But other family relations who had learnt their skills from the Halls

would continue the proud tradition by investing in new types of businesses. A bus transport business service was one of the most successful that served the area during the 1960s and onward. By the time he reached 18, Niko was already actively involved in Vaovai’s village affairs as a member of the taulele’a or the untitled group. Young untitled men were obliged by custom to serve the matai through their special duties to the council and the village. They did manual work and enforced the rules on behalf of the council. As a group they too represented their village in sports, particularly the game of kilikiti (The Samoan version of the English cricket).

Niko took over the title of Sogi in his early twenties. With the support of his mother and new wife, he attended to his new responsibilities with all the knowledge and experience he’s got. In 1965 at age 76, he decided to hand the rein over to the next generation of family leaders. He died shortly after and is buried at Vaovai. Niko and Peniana had only one child, a son named Taulauniu.

Part of the lure in joining the taulele’a group was the promise of travelling to another village for a game of kilikiti. Every young man took such opportunity seriously so they could display their skills in front of a bigger crowd. Thus when the Vaovai taulele’a had a chance to travel to Malie for a friendly game with their counterparts, Niko was one of the travelling members. There he met his future wife, Peniana Misa.

FINAL REMARK

This had been Felix David’s journey in the subjective lenses of this writer, tracing with the others from various stances in time. As is the nature of such task, a number of footprints were traceable. Others would require a bit of scientific prodding. The rest however will never be recovered no matter how much we dare try. What is offered is a perspective that will contribute to a fuller understanding of the subject. N.B. All of Felix David’s children by Tua and Josephine have passed on. Through the surviving generations the legacy continues.

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Samoan Sensation. Watson. R. M. History of Samoa. Chapters III, IV, V, VI, VIII. Retrieved 6-10 March, 2011 from http://www.samoa.co.uk/...history-of-samoa The Reform Movement. Retrieved 28 Apr 2011 from http:/www.simpletoremember /articles/a/reform_movement Private Collections: Tavita Family personal documents. Brebner, V. personal documents.

FELIX DAVID FAMILY PEDIGREE Name:

Felix Bernhardt David

Birth place:

Prussia, Germany

Birthdate:

1868

Died:

18 June 1931, Apia

Parents:

Rudolf & Meta David

Children:

(1st spouse m. 1887) Tua Hall

Asaelu (1888) Niko (1889) Tua (1891), girl

(2nd spouse, m. 1902) Josephine Nelson

Auguste Mausi (1904), girl

Rudolf Frederich (1905) Karl Charles (?)

Josephine Gustava (1912), girl

Felix Olaf (1914)

PROFILE OF TUA DAVID (NEE HALL) Name:

Tua David (nee Hall)

Birth place:

Matautu, Falealili

Birthdate:

abt.1870

Died: abt.1947 Parents:

Joseph Hall & Sailiese Hall (nee Tupuola)

Occupation:

Homemaker & Trader

Siblings:

Joseph Hall Jnr

Children:

. (1st spouse m. 1887) Felix B. David

Asaelu (1888) Niko (1889) Tua (1891), girl . (2nd spouse, m. abt.1903) Siloâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;a Faamanu No offspring Adopted son Sigalu Faamanu . Ioapo (child by Uluulupou)

Index

Flaherty, David 29

Lata 20

Flaherty, Robert 28-

Leulumoega 27, 36

Afakasi 16, 17

Frederick O’Brien 28

Lily Brebner 21

American 12, 23

Funefe’ai 27

London Missionary

August Nelson 26

Gagaifomauga 26

Society (LMS) 8, 9

Apeni Ioapo 48

German 12

Magiagi 22

Apia Harbour 12, 23

German Administra-

Malietoa Laupepa 9, 23

Ane 21, 37, 38

tion 17

Maoris 8

Apia 12, 16, 18

German-Samoa 23

Masoe 26

Asaelu 20, 38, 40, 43

Grierson 35

Mata’afa 23

Beachcombers 8

Hall, Joseph Jnr 19, 38, 39

Matautu, Falealili 19, 20

Berlin Treaty 12, 23

Hall, Joseph Snr 18, 39

Matautu, Savaii 35

Bismarck, Otto von 12, 13

Halle, Father 34

Matavai 26

Bougainville 9

Halls 18, 27, 39

Mau movement 26, 36

British 23

Hired labourers 11

Missionaries 10

Business investors 9

Huch, Emil 21

Meleisea Fili 38

Calliope 23

Huch, Sineva 20-, 37

Meta David 14

Coe, Jonas 22

Huchs 21

Mixed-marriages 17

Coe, Nellie, 22

Hurricane of 1889 23

Moana: the movie 28, 35

Colonization 12

Ioapo 38

Mulinuu Point 23

Cook Islands 8

Influenza pandemic 28

Nellie Coe 22

Emil Huch 21

J. C. Godeffroy

Nelson, Josephine 25, 28

Europe 7, 12

& Sons 10-, 12

Nelsons 26, 27

European 7, 12

Jews 14

Newton Rowe 34

Exporers, Europeans 7

John Williams 8, 9

New Zealand Admini-

Faagase 32

Jonas Coe 22

stration 17, 36

Faamanu Sigalu 44

Joseph Hall Jnr 19, 38, 39

Niko 20, 24, 38-

Faasami Ioapo 48

Joseph Hall Snr 18, 39

O’Brien, Frederick 28-

Fa’i Kopano 48

Josephine Nelson 25

Olaf F. Nelson 26, 27

Falealili 18, 19, 21

Kaiser country 23

Paramount Pictures 28

Falealupo 34

La Perouse 9

Part-Europeans 16

Index Afakasi 16, 17 American 12, 23 August Nelson 26 Apeni Ioapo 48 Apia Harbour 12, 23 Ane 21, 37, 38 Apia 12, 16, 18 Asaelu 20, 38, 40, 43 Beachcombers 8 Berlin Treaty 12, 23 Bismarck, Otto von 12, 13

Bougainville 9

Faamanu Sigalu 44

British 23

Faasami Ioapo 48

Business investors 9

Fa’i Kopano 48

Calliope 23

Falealili 18, 19, 21

Coe, Jonas 22

Falealupo 34

Coe, Nellie, 22

Flaherty, David 29

Colonization 12

Flaherty, Robert 28-

Cook Islands 8

Frederick O’Brien 28

Emil Huch 21

Funefe’ai 27

Europe 7, 12

Gagaifomauga 26

European 7, 12

German 12

Exporers, Europeans 7

German Administra-

Faagase 32

tion 17 German-Samoa 23

Glossary afakasi - from English half-caste. Descendant from a union between a European or ‘white’ and somebody who isn’t. Used offensively during the colonization era, it was European men mainly who married Samoan native women and sired offsprings to which the term applies. Other term used, ‘totolua’. Otherwise referred generally to somebody of mixed racial parentage. tafa’ifa - referential term for a traditional sole ruler of Samoa. Someone who has been conferred the four kingly titles. taulele’a - a group of men in traditional Samoan villages whose role is to serve the matai council and perform special tasks on behalf of the village. Also called ‘aumaga’. taupou - a principal maiden of a traditional Samoan village who plays an important role in village protocols and ceremonies. SAMOAN ORTHOGRAPHY the g is sounded ng, as in tongue.

Acknowledgements Ioana Sogi Niko Tavita (nee William Schuster), the main instigator of this project. Her keen interest on the subject led to her pursuit of information as far back as the early 1950s. Her foresight had made it possible for sources like Niko and others, to make invaluable contributions to this project. The list comprises Vaatila, Faasami Ioapo, Apeni Ioapo, Peniana Tavita, Soi, Talo, Taulauniu, Siaosi, Fiaalua’e, Alao, Fa’i Kopano, Fa’i Vincent Brebner and Laulu. They provided the basis of oral evidence upon which this work lay its claims assuringly. Supplementary evidence was provided also through my own personal interviews of my grandparents, Mataipule Taulauniu and Maima Tavita, as well as my father Sogi Vevesisoo Niko II respectively. Mr Robert J. Flaherty’s own account in

relation to the subject had worked to this writer’s advantage. Along with secondary materials, theirs had proved to be as crucial and complementary from the perspective of written sources. Special thanks to Professor Tagaloatele Peggy Fairbairn-Dunlop for her advice and supportive comments. Last but not least, to Daphne Lanning of Finlayson Park School, who kindly offered to proofread the text. Photos and images were supplied by courtesy of the following: Alexander Turnbull Library, Nelson Memorial Library, Evaleon Books, Niupac Print, Juanita Lambert, Vintage Magazines, Time Magazine. The author is happy to restore the rights of any source which work we used but failed to acknowledge, with the first opportunity made available.