Tuiavii's Way

Tuiavii, a young Samoan chieff at the turn of the century, reveres the white man and his message of love. After all, don't the missionaries teach his people to put down their weapons, honor one other and live in harmony? Surely, there is more good to be learned among these "bringers of light":..how useful such knowledge could be to his fellow islanders!But once in Europe as part of a traveling show,Tuiavii quickly becomes disillusioned. Herealizes that the message of love and sharing, as preached by the missionaries, is not the way of life in Europe. Instead, the white man seems to follow a path of darkness, haste and selfishness.Tuiavii returns home to prepare a series of speeches designed to warn his people.As delightful in their simplicity as they are prescient, TO iavii's speeches portray many aspects of European life and the white man's culture. His perspective is innocent and his language enchanting, but the young chiefs judgments are invariably fair and logical. His skill as a story-teller is sure to have made him a prophet to his fellow Samoans, but it also casts a spell over today's reader. By looking at ourselves through Tuiavii's eyes we are saddened by the loss of simplicity and humanity in our society. Yet each page brings us a step closerr to the truth andd to understanding ourselves.