628 • PROCEEDTNGS OF SECTION G. 



prevent a widow marrying- again. This liberty was probably 

 not granted to widows of high chiefs.* 



Among the P:i]inans in the New Hebrides it was the 

 custom to strangle the widow on the death of the husband, 

 that she might accompany him to the sliades. The Loyalty 

 Islanders spared the widow that ordeal, but she was under 

 restraint not to marry again early, and not without the consent 

 of the deceased husband's family. Then she was not at 

 liberty to claim the children. In her widowhood she might 

 obtain permission to return to her own family and tribe, but 

 she was required to leave her children in the husband's family. 



In Samoa both males and females have full hberty to 

 marry into any family or tribe they choose, though dignity 

 of station is generally observed. They avoid connection 

 with near relatives. In former days, in many eases, a younger 

 sister would accompany the bride to hei' new home, and 

 become a secondary Avife to her sistei-'s husband. In the 

 Loyalty Islands there was little reluctance to consanguinity, 

 beyond congenital members of the family, in forming a 

 union. A remarkable deference was observed between 

 l)rothers and sisters even in ordinary social intercourse. 

 Marriages were rarely made outside of their own tribes, pro- 

 bably with the intention of retaining the land within their 

 tribes. Many physical evils may be attributed to this custom. 



The Samoan treats his wife, and women generally, with 

 courtesy and kindness, and considerable chivalry. In their 

 heathen state, however, the marriage tie was observed only 

 so long as it suited the will or disposition of either party. 

 No bill of divorcement was necessary for a separation. The 

 man or wife might say to the other, " Your love to me is 

 ended, so is mine to you — let us part," and that was con- 

 sidered a lawful dissolution, and on sulhcient grounds. 



The work of a married woman in Samoa is comparatively 

 light. She has the care of the home and the children, the 

 manufacture of native cloth, mats, &c. She keeps the 

 ground around the house well weeded and clear of leaves 

 and rubbish. Occasionally she will help in planting and in 

 fishing — especially collecting Crustacea and shell-fish. The 

 "sewing" of thatch is the Avoi'k of women. A wife accom- 

 panies her husband to the wars, and l)ears a reserve of arms 

 for him in the fight. The Papuan wives have a very hard 



* The two widows of the famous Malietoa of John Williams' time lived 

 near my residence for some years. They continued in widowhood, and 1 was 

 informed that it was considered na or tabu against their marrying again. 



