154 



SAMOAN GROUP. 



rafters are terminated by a wall-piece, made of short pieces of wood, 

 fastened together and to the rafters, so as to form the ellipse required 

 for the roof. The end portions, of similar small pieces, are made to 

 correspond to the required curvature of the roof and the ellipse of the 

 wall-plate. Posts are now placed in the ground, about three feet 

 apart, to receive the wall-piece, which is fastened to their tops. There 

 is no fastening used but sinnet, made of cocoa-nut fibres. The rafters 

 are generally made of the Hibiscus, which is light and strong. The 

 eaves extend about a foot beyond the posts. The smaller houses 

 generally have permanent sides, the larger ones are open all around, 

 but mats are hung up as curtains by the occupants, and any part 

 may be used as a door. 



■■*<£* 



SAMOAN HOUSE. 



After the whole is finished, the interior has the appearance of an 

 extensive framework, from the number of cross-beams, which are 

 used as depositories for their pi'operty, tapas, mats, &c. ; and in some 

 cases the favourite canoe of the chiefs is placed on them. After a 

 full inspection of one of these fabrics, one cannot but view these 

 natives not only as industrious, but as possessing great skill and 

 ingenuity. The thatching lasts four or five years. There is no floor 

 to the house, but the ground is covered with stones about the size of a 

 small egg. There is usually a paved platform on the outside, about 

 three feet wide. In some cases this is raised a foot, and serves to 

 keep the house dry, as the stones allow a free passage to water. On 

 the pavement are laid coarse mats, and the finer ones are spread 

 above, covering about half the area. 



These fine mats are rolled up until required. Many baskets hang 

 here and there, with some cocoa-nut shells to contain water, and the 

 ava bowl. Mats are suspended about as screens. At night, each 

 sleeper is usually supplied with a musquito-curtain, called tai-namu, 



