THE HOSPITABLE SAMOAN 233 



with shore-birds, sandpipers* and a small species 

 of golden ploverf — the latter to be seen in vast 

 numbers — were the most conspicuous. At the 

 mouth of a small river I saw some rails, and 

 amongst the birds I shot was a brilliant scarlet 

 and black sunbird.J The small parrot seen on 

 Tutuila was also observed here in the cocoanut 

 trees, but owing to its extreme shyness no 

 specimens were obtained. 



During this walk, which led me some distance 

 from the towTi, I was able to get an idea of the 

 hospitable nature of the unspoilt Samoan native. 

 Happening to enter a village on the banks of a 

 small river, I was at once accosted by the head- 

 man, who, by signs, invited me into his house 

 for refreshment. The house, like all those in 

 Samoa, was little more than a roof supported on 

 long beams of wood, the walls being merely mats, 

 which could be let down in bad weather. The 

 floor was covered with large mats which, like those 

 of the walls, were made of the leaves of the 

 pandanus, or screw-pine, most neatly and strongly 

 woven together. The people sleep on the floor, 

 their heads, or rather necks, resting on a thick 

 bamboo pillar, raised about an inch from the floor 

 by means of long crossed pieces of wood, shaped 

 like the letter X, and fastened one at each end of 

 the bamboo. 



* Totanus incanus. f Charadrius fulvus. 



X Myzomela nigriventris. 



