PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION T. 403 



3. "O LE MELE I NeIAFU LE TO'eLAU," OF " Ua NA O NeIAFU E 

 FAAMELEA LE TO'elAU," Or " Na O NeIAFU E MELE AI LE TO'eLAU." 



— " It is only (the people of) Neiafu who disparage the to'elau." 

 It is said that two cripples in Neiafu grumbled continually 

 against the to'elau (N.E. trade) winds, because they did not cause 

 the coco-nuts to drop immaturely from the trees, as they were not 

 able to climb for them. They preferred the La'i (west wind), 

 which caused the nuts to fall, even though they were not ripe. 

 Used to describe those who despise the good and prefer the bad, or 

 who prefer to have a worthless article like an immature coco-nut 

 rather than have the trouble of getting a good one. 



4. " O LE faauta a Tavae'e." — " The prudence, or wisdom, of 

 Tavaee." 



Two men went hunting pigs. When the night was near, his 

 companion said to Tavaee, "O Tavaee, what do you think ? Shall 

 we not make a house for us two lest it should rain in the night, and 

 we shiver with cold ? But Tavaee only answered, " e mago vanu •' 

 (" the valleys will be dry "). He was unwilling to build a house, 

 but his companion built one for himself. In the night, the rain 

 came. Tavaee was very cold, and pleaded with his companion to 

 be allowed to share his house, but the only answer which he re- 

 ceived was, " Neither you nor your dog will take any harm, for 

 the valleys are all dry." Used of those who despise warnings, do 

 not exercise prudence, and neglect to prepare for the future. 



5. " Ua o LE NAUGA I A Veve." — Has come to pass (or all the 

 same as) the longing or desire for Veve." 



Veve was a very beautiful lady who had a great many suitors 

 and admirers, but when they saw ner going about naked, or with- 

 out proper dress, their admiration was changed to dislike, and 

 Veve was no longer courted or sought for. 



6. " Se'i sala ia Vala." — " Let the blame be upon Vala." 

 Vala was the daughter of the chief Anufetele. The chief was 



standing at the council meeting one day, and was making a formal 

 speech to the meeting. His daughter Vala was seated on the 

 ground quite near to him. She whispered to him, " Dear elder, 

 remove the gummy matter out of your eye." The old man, think- 

 ing she was prompting liim, repeated her words in his speech, and 

 the whole audience laughed loudly in derision. The girl again 

 whispered to her father the words " Wipe your mouth," and the 

 old man repeated her words, at which there was again a burst of 

 laughter, and he sat down overwhelmed with shame. 



The application is that the blame should be put on the guilty 

 person. Anufetele was not in fault so much as Vala, and so sala 

 ia Vala. 



