SAMOAN GROUP. 123 



taken in deep water by the hook. Among the sea-fish, mullets are very- 

 numerous, and are frequently seen leaping from the water in immense 

 shoals. 



One of the modes in which fish are caught by the Samoans, was 

 witnessed at Samatau. About a dozen canoes formed themselves into 

 a ring around what appeared to be a dark circular spot in the water, 

 about six feet in diameter, and which was moving along with a slow 

 and unequal motion. This was a shoal of the small fish called lou, 

 which is about two inches in length. The shoal being thus surrounded, 

 the circle of canoes was gradually lessened, until the fish, finding them- 

 selves enclosed on all sides, ceased to move forward. At this moment, 

 the head fisher, who was seen standing up in the canoe with a net in 

 his hand, threw it dexterously over the shoal, upon which all the other 

 men dove at once from the boats, and remained for several seconds 

 under the water, where they secured the sides of the net. On reap- 

 pearing, all regained their canoes except four, who remained to take 

 charge of the net, which with its prize they conveyed to the chief. 



These islands furnish abundant supplies for the refreshment of 

 vessels, but as yet there are few articles which can be rendered avail- 

 able in foreign commerce. Tortoise-shell, of which a little has at times 

 been procured at Savaii, cocoa-nut oil, and arrow-root, are nearly all 

 that can be procured in quantities beyond the immediate wants of the 

 visiters. Caoutchouc, gum Arabic, castor beans, orris-root, ginger, 

 and coffee, might however be easily added to the list of exports. In 

 return for what they can furnish, the natives now look to objects of real 

 utility; beads, jews-harps, &c, once so much in request, are now 

 scarcely prized ; and cotton cloth, writing-paper, and hardware, par- 

 ticularly needles and other small articles of utility, are the kinds of 

 manufactured goods which are most sought after. 



The Samoan language is soft and smooth, and is the only one of the 

 Polynesian dialects in which the sound of s is found. The letters that 

 the missionaries have found necessary to adopt in order to write it, are 

 only fourteen in number, viz. :aefgilmnopstuv. In attempt- 

 ing to sound the words of other languages, they use l instead of r, 

 s for h, and p instead of b. The g has a nasal sound, as in ong. 



It has nearly the same construction as the Tahitian, nevertheless the 

 Samoan is far from being understood by the natives of the Society 

 Islands. The Samoans say that they never can acquire it — " their 

 jaws are too stiff." The missionaries also have great difficulty in 

 speaking it, and are liable to make many mistakes which appear absurd 

 to the natives. 



