78 CBUISE OF THE 'OUBAQOA.' 



have introduced houses of coral plastered with lime, and 

 the natives have learnt to divide their houses into separate 

 rooms. ^ 



Alluding to one of these Fala-teles Erskine says, ' we 

 walked up to a beautiful village (Feleasau in Manua) and 

 entered a large house, which our American interpreter called 

 the ' Town,' where clean mats were spread for us, and we 

 were mvited to eat or smoke. This is, in fact, the house 

 of reception for travellers, who may remain as long as they 

 please ; their food being supphed by the inhabitants as long 

 as they make themselves agreeable.^ In these Fala-teles 

 their public meetings are held, the decorum and order of 

 which are something very remarkable, worthy, as has been 

 observed, of our Houses of Parliament. When two speakers 

 arise simultaneously, as there is no speaker's eye to catch, 

 they remain standing until one gives way, the meeting 

 meanwhile being perfectly quiet. As, however, the privi- 

 lege of precedency is fully admitted, and each district has 

 a generally acknowledged position attached to it, such 

 difficulty rarely occurs. Nevertheless it does sometimes. 

 Erskine, at Apia, was lucky enough to see an instance. 

 When he entered the meeting two speakers were on their 

 legs, neither, apparently, inclined to give way, but each, 

 occasionally, addressing the other in an undertone ; at the 



' It is to be hoped that the new houses are not built without 

 reference to external appearance, and that the native taste is in this 

 respect not left undeveloped. 



2 ' Cruise of the " Havannah," ' p. 36. 



