Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 17.djvu/568

SAMBATION. in the neighborhood of Beirut and that it dewed only on the seventh day. Pliny (Nat. Hist., xxxi. 18) relates, in connection with other like marvels, that “in Judea there is a river which dries up every sabbath.” Both Talmuds refer to it, and the Midrash Rabba to Genesis (§ 11) takes it as a proof of the divine ordinance concerning the Sabbath. In later legend the river became the miraculous protection of the exiles against their enemies. The most extensive form of the story is found in the narrative of ‘Eldad’ (ninth century, printed in Jellinek's Beth-Itamidrasch, iii. 6, Leipzig, 1853-57). Various attempts have been made to locate this strange stream, and it has been identified especially with the Zab in Assyria. Doubtless the story is based on the report of an intermittent stream in some part of the world. The elements of the legend are found in the Alexander Romance (Pseudo-Callisthenes), where a river flowing three days with water and three days with sand is assigned to Egypt. There is also a reference to the river as existing in India in the legend of Prester John. Consult: Hamburger, Realencyclopädie des Judentums, vol. ii., p. 1071 (Strelitz, 1883); a very full discussion may be found in Lewin, Wo wären die zehn Stämme Israels zu suchen (Pressburg, 1901).  SAMBOR,. A town in the Crownland of Galicia, Austria, on the Dniester, 47 miles southwest of Lemberg (Map:, H 2). It manufactures oil and linen, and trades in flax, hemp, agricultural produce, and cattle. Population, in 1900, 17,027, mostly Poles.  SAM′BOURNE, (1845—). An English caricaturist and designer. He was born in London, and educated at the City of London School and at the College of Chester. He was intended for the engineering profession, but, his drawings having attracted the attention of Mark Lemon in 1867, Sambourne was employed by Punch, with which journal he has since been connected, having become its chief cartoonist January 1, 1901.  SAMBRE,. A river of Belgium. It rises in the extreme northern part of France, in the Department of Aisne, flows northeastward, and enters the Meuse at Namur after a course of 118 miles (Map:, C 4). It is navigable 100 miles to Landrecies in France, whence the Canal de la Sambre connects it with the Oise. It flows through a very populous region, and forms an important part of the internal waterways of France and Belgium.  SAMBUCUS. See.  SAMEACA,. Aborigines of Basilan Island, Sulu Archipelago. See .  SĀṀKHYA. A system of Hindu philosophy. See.  SAM′NITES. An ancient people of Samnium or Sabinum, in the mountainous region of Middle and Southern Italy. As their name indicates, they were an offshoot of the Sabines, and belonged to the old long-headed prehistoric race. They comprised four divisions: (1) the Caraceni, on the north, whose capital was Anfidena; (2) the Pentri, in the centre, most powerful of all, with their capital Bovianum; (3) the Caudini, in the southwest; (4) the Hirpini, in the south, capital Beneventum. The earliest account of the Samnites relates to their conflict with the

Oscans, whose speech they adopted. On the founding of Rome the Samnites took sides against the city. See. <section end="Samnites" /> <section begin="Samoan Islands" />SAMO′AN ISLANDS, or SAMO′A (formerly ). A group of islands in the Pacific Ocean, belonging partly to the United States and partly to Germany, and extending from about latitude 13° to 15° S., and from longitude 168° to 173° W. They lie about 4200 miles southwest of San Francisco. The group comprises altogether 14 islands, of which only Savaii (660 square miles), Upolu (340 square miles), Tutuila (54 square miles), and the Manua group (26 square miles) are important. The total area is about 1100 square miles. The islands are all volcanic and mountainous, rising in Savaii to a height of 5413 feet. Savaii shows signs of recent volcanic activity. The region along the coast, however, supports a luxuriant vegetation, and the other islands are forest-clad to the summits of the mountains. The coasts are high and steep, but offer no very good harbors. Earthquakes are frequent, but seldom severe.

The climate is tropical, with a mean temperature of 80° in December and 70° in July. The rainfall is abundant, but the islands are subject to severe hurricanes. The flora is similar to that of other Polynesian groups, and the fauna is extremely limited. The only indigenous mammal is a species of rat, but there are several reptiles, including four species of snake. Among the birds the most remarkable is a species of ground pigeon, the Didunculus strigirostris, which is interesting as being a link between the African Treroninæ and the dodo. It is, however, becoming extinct. The wealth of the islands consists principally in their rich vegetation. The soil is of extraordinary fertility and well watered. The staple product is copra, which is produced on a large scale on European plantations, and which constitutes almost the sole article of export. Fruit is also an important product, and cacao is cultivated on an increasing scale. Aside from agriculture there are few industries. The imports and exports of the German portion of the Samoan group in 1901 were $373,898 and $241,808 respectively. The trade of the American island of Tutuila amounted in the same year to over $100,000, the exports representing less than one-fourth. The chief port of the group is (q.v.), on Upolu, but the best harbor is Pago-Pago, in (q.v.).

To Germany belong and  (qq.v.) and the adjacent islets; and to the United States, (q.v.) and the Manua group. German Samoa is administered by an Imperial Governor and a native chief, assisted by a native council. The American possessions are in charge of a naval Governor. There are a number of primary schools maintained by Protestant and Roman Catholic missions. The population of German Samoa in 1900 was 32,612. of whom 347 were European, principally German, British, and American. American Samoa has an estimated population of 5800. The natives are typical Polynesians linguistically and physically. Their somewhat lighter skin and alleged ‘Caucasoid’ features have led some ethnologists to class them as ‘Indonesian’ and to assume their affinity with the white race of the Eurasiatic continent, together with the other Eastern Polynesians—Tongans, <section end="Samoan Islands" />