626 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION G. 



and take iij) liis abode in the woman's family, in vvliicli case 

 he sinks his dignity and becomes a serf or underling- in the 

 wife's household. These events were often the occasion of 

 family fends, and not nnfreqiiently of intertribal wars. 



In ordinary cases the marriage celebration was a very 

 sinijjle affair, and conducted without much parade or 

 ceremony ; but in the case of eitlier party being a member 

 of a chief's family, the celebration was of an ostentatious 

 and public character, accompanied with feasting and revelry, 

 which continued for several days. On the day appointed the 

 bride and her relatives and friends would assemble, with the 

 tonfja they had collected, in tlie village of the bridegroom, 

 and the friends and family of the young man did the same, 

 with the oloa they had provided for the auspicious event. A 

 large gathering would meet in the marae — the ojien space in 

 the town or village for all public business. The bridegroom, 

 decked for the occasion, seated himself cross-legged, in 

 Samoan fashion, in the centre of the marae ; the bride then 

 emei'ged from an adjacent house dressed with a profusion of 

 fine mats dependent from her loins and trailing in a long- 

 train behind, her body well anointed with scented oil, her 

 chest, and neck, and head ornamented with necklaces and 

 garlands. She was followed by a number of maidens 

 adorned with fine mats, &c. They would move in procession 

 to the bridegroom, and deposit the fine mats before him. 

 The attendants then withdrew from the bride ; and a truly 

 heathenish custom followed, which will not bear descrip- 

 tion. 



The feasting, dancing, and nocturnal orgies were carried 

 on for some days. Before separating, the property was 

 divided among the friends by the father or paternal uncle of 

 the bridegroom, who distributed the tovga, or dowry ; and by 

 the father or brother of the bride, wdio divided out the 

 oloa. 



An evil custom existed in Samoa, grossly immoral and 

 fraught with much mischief. Among young chiefs of good 

 a]3))earance were some who Avei-e termed manaia (beaus). 

 AV hetlier single or married, a temjiorary alliance was arranged 

 with young women. With much display, and with the 

 consent of the families of each, the maiiaia was taken to the 

 house of the belle, and they would cohabit for a time. The 

 usual interchange of projierty took ]5lace as on a laAvful 

 marriage. This seems to be the main object of the vile 

 transaction, 



