160 SAMOAN GROUP. 



to tie it up in various forms, and to add to the fierceness of their 

 appearance they wore large bunches of false hair, which also 

 increased their apparent height. 



In making peace, the conquered party was required to make 

 submission, by bringing loads of stones, fire-wood, green boughs, 

 and to bow down very abjectly in the presence of the chief. They 

 were also required to pay a large amount of tapa, mats, and other 

 property. 



The government of the Samoans is more refined in principle than 

 could well be expected. The rule of hereditary chiefs is acknow- 

 ledged, and the distinction of the several classes well defined. Great 

 respect is paid to the chiefs, and particularly to the "Tupu," or 

 highest class. To this belong Malietoa, Pea of Manono, &c. The 

 second class consists of the near relatives of the first, and of others 

 who have large possessions ; the third, of the petty chiefs of villages ; 

 next comes the tulafales, who are a well-defined class between the 

 chiefs (alii) and common people. These tulafales are proprietors of 

 the soil, and householders ; they possess considerable influence, and 

 act as advisers of the chiefs, and the executors of their orders. Like 

 the chiefs, they derive their rank from descent. There is no distinct 

 name for the common people as a class, but the chiefs in speaking of 

 them always apply some opprobrious epithet. The son of a low-born 

 woman by a chief ranks as a chief, although he has no authority, and 

 the son of a noble woman by a man of mean birth, may be either a 

 chief or a commoner. 



The lands are allotted and distinguished by known boundaries. 

 The natural heir of the former owner succeeds, and is the feudal 

 chief or leader in war, but all his dependants are free to cultivate it. 

 Lands may be sold, which is done at public meetings, and the bar- 

 gain is made binding by sticking their staves into the ground, or 

 digging a portion of it up. 



The whole power lies in the high chiefs of the " Malo" or con- 

 quering party. They assemble in fono, and determine the general 

 laws and rules of action. At the head of this is Malietoa, who is now 

 considered the head chief of Atua, and it is supposed will shortly 

 acquire that of Tui of Aana. Each of these districts formerly had a 

 separate chief, bearing the same title of Tui, but in their wars with 

 Manono, nearly all the descendants of these princes were killed off. 

 To obtain this title requires the consent of the chiefs of Manono, and 

 part of Savaii, which belongs to the ruling party. 



