French Polynesia is a collection of 118 islands covering a vast area of the southeastern Pacific Ocean.
The beautiful 1855 first edition example of J. H. Colton's map of Hawaii and other Polynesian island groups below contains seven separate maps. The top map, occupying the upper half of the sheet, details the Hawaiian Islands or Sandwich Islands, as they were also known. This particular mapping of Hawaii dates to the 1841 U.S. Exploring Expedition to the Pacific.
A second map inset in the lower left corner of the Hawaii map details the Samoan Islands. While Colton most likely grouped these together as a matter of space saving practicality, we find it ironic that both territories would eventually become part of the United States.
(Click on map image for additional views and details.)
Divided among five archipelagoes: the volcanic Society Islands, also called the islands under the wind (in the west) and the wind islands (in the east), with the well known island of Tahiti, the Tuamotu Archipelago, the Gambier Islands, the Marquesas Islands, and the coral Tubuai Islands (Austral Islands). Also included are American Samoa, the Cook Islands, Niue, Pitcairn (famous for the Mutiny on the British ship HMS Bounty), Samoa, Tonga and Tuvalu.
Between 1722 and 1791, European ships landed on Samoa while on their way westwards to search for the Great Southern Continent. Samoans attacked at least two of the landing parties, giving Samoans a hostile and violent reputation.
As a result, traders (who were developing Pacific trade routes carrying goods such as whale products, sandalwood and beche de mere—the sea cucumber) avoided Samoa until the early 1800 when German traders visited the islands and, in 1900 Samoa became a colony of Germany. During this time Reverend John Williams moved to Samoa and converted all of the islanders to Christianity.
By 1820, a few Europeans had braved the reputation of the islanders and settled on Samoa. These were mostly retired whalers and escaped convicts who enjoyed the climate and the solitude and who found the people to be open and friendly.
In 1830, missionaries began arriving. Englishman Peter Turner established a Wesleyan Methodist Mission in Apia and converted the chief of all Samoa, Malietoa Vainu'upo. Following his lead, the general population soon converted and Samoa became predominantly Methodist. Once the Samoans' formidable reputation was dispelled European traders started to include the islands in their regular routes, taking advantage of the seafood and tropical fruits that were grown there.
June 18, 1872, Daily Alta California, San Francisco
Trade began to flourish with Britain, the USA and Germany and, as in other countries, the nations fought to gain control, not only for reasons of trade, but because of the strategic position in the mid-Pacific. In the late 1880s, all three national sent warships to the harbor of Apia to defend their claims to the islands. In 1889, a cyclone slammed into the islands, costing the lost of warships and lives.
In that same year, the three powers signed the Berlin Treaty, establishing an independent Samoa. This caused infighting with Samoan dynastic families, the three nations reached a different agreement, which split Samoa into two nations, one ruled by Germany and the other by the United States.
Guardian, January 23, 1889
London, United Kingdom
Samoa.—President Cleveland has sent to Congress the correspondence on the Samoa disturbances, with a message intimating that Germany is at fault. He also says:—
"Germany asserts that she has no desire or intention to overturn the native Samoan Government, or to ignore our treaty rights, and still invites our Government to join her in restoring peace and quiet. But thus far her propositions on this subject seem to lead to such a preponderance of German power in Samoa as was never contemplated by us, and is inconsistent with every prior agreement or understanding, while her recent conduct as between the native warring factions gives rise to a suspicion that she is not content with a neutral position. Acting under the restraints which our Constitution and laws have placed upon the executive power, I have insisted that the independence of Samoa should be scrupulously preserved, according to the treaty made with Samoa by the Powers named and their other agreements and understandings with each other."
Orders have also been given for strengthening the American force in Samoan waters. Accounts received via San Francisco accused the Germans of very high-handed proceedings —tearing down and burning American flags, burning American houses, and firing on the captain and lieutenant of a British man-of-war. The officers of the German ship Eber, however, which left Auckland on the 13th inst., declare that these stories are totally untrue.
