PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION F. 413 



54. " O LE TAGi A pu MATE." " The crying (or noise) of a dead 

 trumpet shell." 



The trumpet shell makes noise enough to rouse up a whole 

 town, but it is only a dead thing, which can neither creep nor 

 walk. It is only the voice or sound which is alive. Applied to 

 a poor man who has no mats or property to give to a man who 

 can only talk and who does no work; or to a cripple who can 

 r.either walk or work. A poor man on the occasion of a death 

 in the family, which necessitates the giving of fine mats, would 

 cry, " I hate this poverty, I have not got any mats, I am only 

 the cry of a dead trumpet shell before you chiefs and ladies, &c." 



55. " Ua LOGO FUG o LE PU 00 LE ALEA." " Uselessly called a 

 pu (trumpet shell) but only an alea appears." 



The pu makes a great noise, but the alea can only make a 

 very little cry. It is like the pu in appearance, but that is all. 

 It cannot make a great noise like the pu. The varied conditions 

 of human life. All men are alike in some respects; all have 

 bands, feet, eyes, &c., but they are not alike in other respects; 

 some are rich, others poor; some sick, others well, &c. &c. All 

 have bodies like the pu, but the power of some is only that of the 

 alea. The proverb is also used by a man excusing himself, or his 

 family, because they have not given a large present to some 

 visitors; or as an excuse to his relatives for not helping them with 

 fine mats or property to the extent of their request." 



56. " E TU I LE Tafola a e sau Lupo." " To stand on (near) 

 a whale and angle for minnows." 



To illustrate the folly of neglecting great and important mat- 

 ters for those of little or no value. 



57. " Ua moe le Ufu a e toa le Paipat." "The Ufu is 

 • sleeping and the Paipai is at rest." 



The ufu is a fish and the paipai a species of crab. The phrase 

 is used as a reproof to any one rising to speak after the matter 

 in question has been decided. The illustration is used to avoid 

 saying, " We have finished, and so there is no more to say." 



58. " Ua se Sumu sisila." " (He) is a staring Sumu." 

 The sumu is a fish of the genus Balistes, and is generally con- 

 sidered as a foolish fish which can only stare in a silly way. The 

 figure is used to describe a lazy, lifeless, useless man. 



59. " E case le Aeno i lona vae." " The Aeno dies by its 

 own claw." 



The aeno is a species of land-crab. When caught the natives 

 break off one of its claws, and with it they pierce the body of 

 the aeno, and so kill it. This is used when a man suffers or dies 

 aij the direct consequence of his own actions. 



