1839.] AMUSEMENTS. 205 



girls, for the entertainment of guests and visitors. The men 

 likewise have their dances, which are not so indecorous, and 

 which they perform in parties, advancing and retreating, 

 clapping their hands, and stamping with their feet. 



Their principal musical instruments are the drum and flute. 

 The first is long and narrow, and is made of a part of a tree 

 hollowed out. The flute is of bamboo, usually about one 

 inch in diameter and sixteen inches long. They also make 

 pipes of the bamboo, and have a rude sort of guitar formed of 

 a loose slat fitted into a piece of board, upon which they beat 

 with two sticks. 



They have a number of games. Among them is that of 

 lafe, which resembles shuffle board, and is played by the 

 chiefs only, on a mat, with cocoa-nut shells finely carved and 

 ornamented. Tuae-fua consists in keeping balls in the air, 

 like the Chinese jugglers ; and litia, in throwing light spears 

 of hibiscus rods. Lupe is played by two persons ; the one 

 strikes the back of his closed fist on a table, and then holds 

 up, instantly, one or more fingers ; if his opponent fails to 

 hold up the same fingers immediately, he loses one point, and 

 there are ten in the game. 



In each village there is a f ale-tele, or council house, where 

 the fonos, or public meetings, are held. In the heathen 

 towns, also, strangers are entertained in them with feasts and 

 dances. 



When the Samoan salutes a friend, or visitor, he takes his 

 hand, and rubs the back of it against his own nose. 



As in most savage, or unenlightened nations, wives are 

 obtained by making presents to the parents, usually to the 

 father. Marriages take place early. Girls are betrothed 

 without regard to age, and are sad, or taboo, till they become 

 marriageable. After the betrothal, the parties commence the 

 preparations for housekeeping ; a house is built, and a supply 

 of mats and iapas made. Two days previous to the marriage 

 are taken up with feasts and amusements ; and on the third 

 day, the bride is produced before the guests, the Jewish cere- 

 mony customary on such occasions is performed, the mar- 



