4:20 PROfEEDINGS OF SECTIOX i\ 



96. " O LE A SOSOPO LE MAXU VALE I LE FOGATIA." "The 



worthless bird is about to pass over (intrude into) the sporta 

 grounds." 



This illustration is also taken from the pigeon-catching sport. 

 The worthless bird is any bird but a pigeon which files over the 

 hill-top where the sport is being carried on. The words are used 

 as an apology for speaking or offering an opinion in the presence of 

 chiefs of higher rank and influence. 



97. " O LE FOGATIA UA MALU MAUNU." — " The sports ground is 

 shaded with bait." 



The bait (maunu) is the number of old trained pigeons which 

 are flown on the ground to attract the wild pigeons. The words 

 are often used of a man who, on passing through a village, finds the 

 chiefs and rulers assembled, and so he decides to remain awhile in 

 the hope of getting some food. 



98. " LuPE o LE TAAFANO."— " Pigeons which go at large." 

 Applied to women who are often being mari-ied, flying about 



from one husband to another. Applied also to harlots. 



99. " Ua LE SE I MAU SE ALAVAA." — " Why not steer (or keep 

 to) a straight course." 



Used to a speaker who is not speaking to the point, or who is 

 advocating that which is wrong. 



100. " E ASA LE FAIVA, A E LE ASA LE MASALO. " " The fishing 



may be without fish, but doubting or suspicion will always have a 

 catch." 



101. " O LE MALiE MA LE Tuu." — " Eacli shark (caught) has its 

 payment (is paid for)." 



This may be used to express the idea that each act of kindness 

 will receive an adequate return, but the general use of the plirase 

 is that payment (revenge) is sure to be demanded for any one 

 killed by another. 



102. " Ua ifo I LE Ti a e ae I LE NoNU." — "To get down 

 from the Ti (a low-growing plant) and climb the Nonu (low-grow- 

 ing tree)." 



'fhere is little or no difference between the two. This is applied 

 to family quarrels, which do not mucli affect others. " Ua u ifo 

 a e tau i le pau." — " He bites, but only on the skin," — is another 

 phrase which is used in the same way. 



103. " Ua motu le lautiti." — " The leaves of the leaf girdle 

 are broken." 



So many fish have been caught that the leaf girdle is stripped of 

 its leaves, as they have had to use them to tie up the fish. This is 

 used to describe the number of people who were killed in a fight. 



