Huhn, Heinrich

Growing up in two cultures, Sale was multilingual and could speak and write in Sāmoan, English, and German. Along with his private school education, this provided him with a range of opportunities in his short but robust career. At the young age of 15, he was employed as an interpreter at the British Consulate in Apia. The role became a stepping stone for a position as chief interpreter at the Sāmoan High Court in 1900 when Germany annexed Sāmoa. His language skills also allowed him to move in a variety of social circles. Thus, he became friends with Scottish writer and poet Robert Louis Stevenson, to whom he taught Sāmoan. Sale married Tipesa Timaio Lio who had prominent family connections in Savai’i, and they had several children.
As chief interpreter, Sale became well acquainted with German governor Wilhelm Solf who administered Sāmoa between 1900 and 1911. Solf heavily relied on Sale to reach and disseminate information among the indigenous Sāmoan population. To further his language and cultural competencies, and to impress him with Germany’s grandeur, the German governor decided to send the young interpreter to Germany. In 1901, Sale set sail to Bremerhaven via Sydney. His travels took him to Witzenhausen where he spent 6 months at the German Colonial School (Deutsche Kolonialschule für Landwirtschaft, Handel und Gewerbe). The school sought to educate young German men in agriculture, trade, and plantation work to pioneer German culture in distant colonies. After his stint at the school, Sale travelled to the Wartburg and visited Solf in Bad Kissingen. Besides this instance, and occasionally sending Sale pocket money, the German governor had little time for him, and the two wouldn’t cross paths again while in Germany. This further highlights the exploitative nature of their relationship and that the young interpreter’s performative labour was only useful to Solf in Sāmoa.
Having encountered new places and experiences, Sale’s interest in travelling grew. Neighbouring European countries and the United States, where Solf was due to visit, were particularly intriguing, so he asked to continue his excursion. His request was declined by the German governor, however, likely because Solf feared further travels might warm Sale to other Western ideologies. After all, Sale was an educated man at an impressionable age who had proved his ability to move fluidly between cultures. In the governor’s eyes, he was too valuable a political asset to lose to European rivals. Hence, Solf demanded Sale return to Apia in 1902.
While in Germany, Sale was replaced by fellow Sāmoan translator Afamasaga “Saga” Maua, who moved through the interpretation ranks and was quickly promoted to Solf’s private secretary and advisor. Although Sale was confronted with a demotion upon his return, he continued to serve the German governor and shared responsibilities with Saga. In August 1911, his life took a turn for the worse. Sale tragically died at the age of 40 after falling from a horse, fracturing his skull. In commemoration of his service to the German administration and community, a monument was erected at Tufuiopa Cemetery, Apia.

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