416 • PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION F. 



72. " Seia siliga ifo mauga." — " Until the mountains fall." 

 " Seia siliga ae vanu." — " Until the valleys are levelled up." 



(Those associated with Occupations, Fishing, Sailing, Games, &c.) 



73. " O LE POTO I LAULOA." — " The wisdom needed to fish in 

 the lauloa." 



Used of, or to, a man who is boasting of his cleverness. Any 

 man who can plait a leaf of the coco-nut palm, or pull, however 

 feebly, can take part in the lauloa, which is a mode of fishing in 

 which the entire village takes part. 



74. " Ia tau fesui tautai i le inafo." — " Change the fisher- 

 man when (wearied) in the midst of the school of bonito." 



The work of fishing for bonito when the fish are biting well 

 is very hard, and the advice to "spell" the fisherman is, no 

 doubt, good, but the illustration is used of all other work. 



75. " E poga I VAO A E MAPUNA I ALA." — " Its roots may be in 

 the forest, but they will be exposed in the roads." 



This saying is connected with the great sport of seuga-lupe 

 (catching pigeons with hand nets). This sport was very popular, 

 and was carried out under very strict regulations. One of these 

 was that all the rnen engaged in it were for the time being sacred 

 (paia), and were ail of equal influence. When they ate together 

 the names of those contributing the respective portions were not 

 called out, nor was it allowable to ask for their names. They 

 all knew, however, if any man had given poor food, either in 

 kind or quantity, and the fact, though secret in the forest, was 

 widely known on the journey home. Used to express the opinion 

 that the story will be known, though supposed to be kept secret. 



76. "O LE AUAU LAVA o MAA iNA VAX VAX." — "Clearing away 

 stones because of faint-heartedness." 



This is an allusion to the public wrestling matches in which 

 one of the wrestlers asks that the loose stones may first be cleared 

 away, so that when he falls his head may not be broken. All 

 the care of the man, they say, should be how he may overcome 

 his opponent, and not how to secure a clear place for his own 

 fall. Shows that a man who anticipates defeat is not likely to 

 conquer in the fight. 



77. " Ua txgaina fax tolo." — "Troubled at the spear-throw- 

 ing match." 



This phrase has its origin in the game of spear-throwing 

 (tologa). At that game two leaders are appointed, one tor each 

 side, and they only are allowed to speak or to contend as to points 



