SAMOAN GROUP. 1 57 



each celebrated for a particular staple. Some excel in making mats ; 

 others in building canoes ; the districts in which the seaports are, 

 obtain a variety of articles from ships, which are subsequently dis- 

 tributed over the whole group. 



It may readily be supposed that there are many circumstances 

 which make this mode of communication inconvenient, particularly 

 when the travelling party is a large one, in which case it absolutely 

 breeds a famine in its progress. 



I have before stated that every -village has its " fale-tele," which is 

 the property of the chief. In this their " fonos" or councils are held, 

 and it is also the place where strangers are received. The mode of 

 receiving visiters is attended with much ceremony. A party enters 

 the village without inquiring where or how they are to be enter- 

 tained, and take up their quarters in the " fale-tele." In a short time 

 the chief and principal personages collect and visit the strangers, 

 telling them in a set speech the pleasure they enjoy at their arrival, 

 and their delight to entertain them. This is mostly said in what 

 they term " tala-gota," the speech of the lips, and much compli- 

 mentary language ensues. The Samoan language abounds in 

 phrases adapted to this use, and worthy of a refined people. 



After this interchange of compliments, the young women assemble 

 to treat the strangers to "ava." This is prepared after the usual 

 mode, by chewing the Piper mythisticum. During this time the 

 young men are employed collecting and cooking food. This is all 

 done with great despatch. The pigs are killed ; the taro collected ; 

 the oven heated ; and baskets made to hold the viands. In the feast 

 they are well assured of sharing, and therefore have a strong stimulus 

 to exertion. 



The strangers, on receiving the food, always return part of it to 

 the entertainers. Thus all the village is occupied with the entertain- 

 ment, and a scene of frolicking ensues until the strangers see fit to 

 take their departure. 



Among the Heathen, dancing during the evening always follows 

 this feast ; but the Christian villages have abolished all dancing. 



These visits are not always paid or received in a spirit of hospi- 

 tality. The chief of a powerful district takes this mode to exact 

 tribute from his less powerful neighbours, and they are on such 

 occasions extremely overbearing and insolent to their entertainers. 



For crimes, they have many forms of punishment, among which 

 are : expulsion from the village in which the offender resides ; expo- 



vol. 11. 40 



