Unbekannt

This photograph is inscribed “Seumanu”, which is probably the name of the man depicted. Seumanu may be short for Seumanutafa, a title held by a family group settled around Apia harbour. Thus, he was perhaps related to Seumanutafa Pogai, one of Apia’s high chiefs. The man is sitting on a chair in a studio environment and was possibly captured by English photographer John Davis in his studio in Matafele, Apia. Seumanu is wearing a cotton ‘ie lavalava around his waist, an ‘ula, and is holding a handkerchief in his right hand. The second inscription at the top of the glass plate states that he was involved in rescuing German sailors from warships Adler and Eber when the cyclone ravaged anchored naval vessels in Apia harbour in March 1889.

Author: Charlotte Klinge, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa