636 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION G. 



net and fish-hook makers, surgeons and tatauers form distinct 

 crafts, confined to certain families, where a rigid monopoly is 

 maintained. Among these craftsmen several subordinate 

 assistants are retained, who in course of time become masters. 

 There are also lower helps, who are employed to cut wood 

 and plait sinnet for the carpenters, prepare tbe cord, &:c, for 

 the net- makers, and seek medicinal herbs for the doctors. 

 The women have their own occupations, followed with more 

 or less skill and industry in all their families, such as the 

 manufacture of fine mats to be worn as rich clothing, and 

 the coarser sleeping and house mats, and native cloth made 

 from the bark of the paper-mulberry {Morus papyrifera), 

 beaten out on boards with a grooved beetle. The sound of 

 these beetles linging upon the boards, though not very 

 musical, is pleasing, as denoting health and peace prevailing 

 in the village. 



As a rule the Samoans had but one definite meal a day — 

 at evening, about six o'clock. They did not fast in the 

 interval, for where fruits and edible plants so extensively 

 abound the natives were always regaling themselves with one 

 thing or another. Cooking is performed by men, women, 

 and children indiscriminately ; all helped in some part of the 

 operation. The cooking shed was placed a little distance 

 from the house at the back. The native oven was a simple 

 construction, a hollow in the ground, lined with stones (blue 

 metal). This was filled with firewood sufficient for the pur- 

 pose, and upon the firewood other stones were placed, and 

 the fire lighted. The stones were all red hot by the time the 

 wood was consumed. The upper stones were then removed 

 to the side, the ashes swept out, and the food to be cooked, 

 wrapped up in breadfruit or banana leaves, was placed in the 

 hollow and then enclosed with the stones just removed. The 

 whole was covered over with leaves to keep in the heat. In a 

 short time the food would be well cooked — fish, pork, vegetables, 

 &c., whatever may have been provided. It was then with- 

 drawn from the oven and spread out upon the breadfruit 

 leaves, and borne into the house upon a tray of plaited 

 cocoanut leaflets. The members of the family would sit 

 around this tray or against the outer posts of the house, and 

 their portions of food were borne to them by the women of 

 the family, under the direction of the head man or his wife. 

 Samoans are exceedingly hospitable, and visitors are wel- 

 comed and liberally entertained. The best and largest 

 portions are appropriated to such guests. A neighbour or a 



