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this triumph of peace it would rejoice. There was another ringing cheer when the two Kings entered McArthur's compound and were received by Mr. Dunnett. The guard took up position on the lawn while we went to the mess-room to dinner, and there, in amicable conversation, Malietoa and Mataafa commenced the foundation of a firm alliance. Afterwards, on the balcony, Malietoa received many chiefs. Wounded warriors came to kiss his hand. The American Consul, Mr. Blacklock, paid his respects, and when the two Kings had marched homewards with the same state as before the English missionaries turned up. The attitude taken by the representatives of the London Missionary Society has been most extraordinary. Malietoa was a pupil at their college till he was twenty years of age. He was, in fact, first declared King by the missionaries twenty years ago. He is a good Protestant. Nature and training made him for a preacher. Yet the English pastors here let Malietoa be deported without a protest, they let him come back without a welcome, until they are satisfied ou which side of the fence to get down by Malietoa being received and entertained by the representatives of such a firm as McArthur's. All night long the chiefs in. the native villages round Apia held conference. Messengers were sent to all parts of the islands. A great fono gathering of the chiefs is to be held next week. Malietoa now lives in Mataafa's house ; he has assumed native costume again, and the two Kings are treated with equal honour. At the fons it is thought that Mataafa will be declared King and Malietoa Vice-King, or vice versii. But, in any case, Mataafa would be the real ruler. Even the religious dissensions of Protestant and Catholic cannot blind the Samoan chiefs to the fact that Mataafa will be their best ruler. It is the wish of the people. But Germany may strongly oppose this, as Mataafa's rule must be distasteful to the Germans, he having beaten an armed force sent ashore to support the traitor Tamasese. Mataafa's reign certainly means that English and American influence will predominate in Samoa, for which most people are thankful.

The return of King Malietoa to Samoa, of which a correspondent gives an interesting description in another column, marks the close of a somewhat unfortunate chapter in the colonial policy of Germany. In Samoa, as elsewhere, Prince Bismarck has had reason to complain of the indiscreet and impatient zeal of his agents, which committed the Imperial Government to a course of action it has been found unwise, and, indeed, impossible to persevere in. It can be no matter for surprise that both the Chancellor and the German people have grown rather tired of colonial enterprises of dubious profit entered upon without an adequate calculation of the cost, and with an imperfect knowledge of the local circumstances. There can, for instance, be little doubt that when the Germans embarked on their aggressive policy in Samoa they were ignorant both of the strength of native feeling and of the vigour with which American and British interests would be vindicated by individuals even more than by Governments. The meek and self-renouncing character of King Malietoa seems to have obtained a strong hold on the affections of the Samoans, while Mataafa, the leader of the patriotic resistance which ended in the overthrow of the puppet-king, Tamasese, whom the Germans had set up, has not less won their confidence by his capacity, his courage, and his abnegation of personal aims. The cordial terms on which the deposed King and the popular leader have met upon the return of the former to his native land are of good omen for the working of the settlement adopted by the Berlin Conference. The restoration of King Malietoa is one of the initial steps in the execution of that compact, which still awaits the ratification of the Senate of the United States in the December Session. By that arrangement, though Germany does not secure the preponderating influence which her diplomatists claimed at Washington, her rights at Apia are guaranteed in common with those of the United Kingdom and the United States. The autonomous government of Samoa is to be subject to the supervision of Germany and America, with this country in the position of umpire in case of dispute. King Malietoa will resume his crown, and, with the powerful support of Mataafa as his colleague or his commander-in-chief, he will probably be able to maintain himself against all domestic rivals, even more successfully than before he came into conflict with the Germans. The story of what has happened in Samoa within the past three years is not uninstructive. The Germans, who had established an important centre of trade at Apia, had from time to time made complaints against the Government of King Malietoa of remissness in the punishment of native outrages on the persons and property of German citizens. It is probable that the King's most unpardonable offence was his subjection to American and English rather than to German influence. At any rate, a drunken riot on the Emperor's birthday in 1887, in which some German sailors were assaulted, was made the ground of an ultimatum launched against Malietoa, and a section of the chiefs were encouraged to confer the nominal sovereignty on Tamasese, whom the German Government hastened to recognise. The Germans declared war on Malietoa, affirming, in a formal communication to the British and American Governments, that " it was considered incompatible with the dignity of the Empire that he should be allowed to rule over the country any longer." Malietoa, who was supported by the majority of his people, was at first inclined to resist, and it appeared probable that the military operations of the Germans would result in much destruction of native life, as well as much damage to European-trade. To avert bloodshed and devastation Malietoa surrendered to the German Consul, curbing the resentment of his followers, and was straightway deported in a German war-ship to the Marshall Islands. Tamasese was recognised as King by Germany, and the German Government proposed at Washington that the" Powers should agree to a German Protectorate over Samoa for a period of five years. But the question proved a more difficult and |horny one than had been anticipated .at Berlin. The United States stoutly opposed the German pretensions. Malietoa's partisans rose in arms against Tamasese and chose Mataafa as their leader, in the absence of the exiled King. The struggle, in which Tamasese had the moral support and even the active assistance of the Germans, was tedious and for some time indecisive, but at length the triumph of Mataafa became indisputable, and Tainasese's kingship collapsed. Meanwhile the war had seriously compromised the commercial interests of American

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