172 REV. T. POWELL ON THE 



FURTHER REMARKS BY THE AUTHOR OF THE FOREGOING PAPER. 



Dr. Thornton's remarks, as to whether the present generation of Samoans 

 understand the language of the^e ancient myths, are too important to be 

 dismissed with the few words uttered in answer to his questions when the 

 paper was read. 



1. The greater part of the words of the traditions are known to the 

 present generation ; but their meaning, as intended in the myths, is only 

 fully known to the older people and to members of the tradition families, 

 i.e. the words have remained, laut the meaning of many has become 

 obscured. 



2. The existence of the tradition-keeping families on all the islands, 

 and in several districts of each island, has doubtless had a similar effect 

 in preserving the language that the Koran has in preserving the Arabic, 

 as explained by the Chairman in answer to Mr. Howard's question. 



3. There were also traditionary myths and love-songs which the young 

 men were accustomed to rehearse of an evening at social parties, which 

 would tend to preserve the language. And the tenacity of memory of such 

 a people should be allowed full weight in connection with this subject. 



4. Another important consideration in connexion with this subject is 

 the great difference which exists between the Samoan and the English lan- 

 guages. The Samoan is unmixed with any foreign language ; the English 

 of the present day consists to a large extent of Anglicised foreign words 

 which have displaced words in common use in the time of Chaucer. 



These, and other considerations which might be mentioned, I beg to 

 suggest, remove all difficulty to accepting these Samoan traditions as very 

 ancient. 



