404 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION F. 



7. " Ua o le fotuga a Mosopili le faasausautua." — " Has 

 come (again) the offering of Mosopili, which was too late." 



Mosopili dwelt at Foaluga, but his parents lived at Foalalo. 

 His sister was sick, and a message was sent to inform him of the 

 fact, and that she was likely to die, but he did not go to visit her. 

 Again and again he was told of her illness, but he still deferred 

 his promised visit. At length, he was told that she was dead, 

 when he at once seized a siapo (native cloth), and ran down to 

 Foalalo, but his sister was dead. He neglected to show his love 

 for his sister while she was living, and only tried to do so wlien 

 it was too late. 



This is often used as a gentle reminder to any member of the 

 family who neglects to bring his proper contribution to any family 

 affair or work. 



8. " O LE taeao na I Saua." — " The morning that was at 

 Saua." 



This is a S9.ying which is used to express joy and appreciation 

 of any event, or of benefits conferred. Saua was the name of a 

 malae or place of meeting at Satupaitea, and the morning referred 

 to was that on which Tumupue, the son of Valomua, of Satupaitea, 

 danced v»'hilst Lesalevao, who was a spirit or god, sang the gesture 

 song. Then Tavaetoto descended, and only then was silenced or 

 appeased the fretful crying child, Fua. 



9. "O LE faalele fulu o Lavea." — "The feather-blowing of 

 Lavea." 



Lavea was the head of his family at Safotu. Their family god 

 or spirit was supposed to be present in the fowl, and so they were, 

 of course, prohibited from eating or injuring that bird. When 

 Lavea and his family became professing Christians, these customs 

 were not observed, and, as a proof of the sincerity of his conver- 

 sion, Lavea was asked to kill and eat a fowl, and this he consented 

 to do. Ha was, however, still very much afraid, and so, as a com- 

 promise, he blew away the feathers as an offering to the god, and 

 then he ate the fowl. 



This is used to illustrate the folly of trying to be right with all 

 sides ; of a merely pretended allegiance ; and that of retaining the 

 best and offering that which is of no value. 



10. " Ua o mea o Pega." — " Just as the goods of Pega." 

 Pega was a mean, niggardly fellow, who never gave away a 



piece of siapo (native cloth), but let his clothing rot on his own 

 person. This conduct is very reprehensible in Samoa. The phrase 

 can, however, be used to advocate the wisdom of keeping fast hold 

 of all that is good. (Note the use of " o," not " a," with " mea," 

 probably because mea means cloth.) 



