“ Eine Reise durch die Deutschen Kolonien ” Verlag Kolonialpolitischer Zeitschriften GmbH ,
Rudolf Berking was born in Hanover , Germany , and arrived in Samoa in 1900 via Hawaii . After a stint in junior roles in the Customs Department he was made Collector of Customs in 1905 . In this photo Mr Berking can be seen standing in white at the entrance to the Customs House , on the Apia shoreline . His assistant C . Pullack appears to be on the left . One of the other men is likely to be Captain F . Kruse , the “ tide waiter .” The Collector of Customs was a more important job than it sounds as in the German Administration the position was also responsible for the collection of direct taxes on business and citizenry .
In a profile of Berking in 1907 , the “ Cyclopedia of Samoa ,” commented on a personal quality of the man that had made him popular in his Customs role and for which he was known throughout his life : a great courtesy and thoughtfulness of manner .
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