SAMOAN GROUP. 



13? 



Sham club-fights and wrestling-matches are common, and frequently 

 end in broken heads, limbs, and teeth knocked out. 



'%Mm^ : ' 



An odd amusement of the natives was seen in the forest, in one of 

 the clearings near one of the heathen villages, and at a short distance 

 from Apia, (the vignette gives a good idea of it.) A fine large tree 

 had been lopt of its branches (except at the very top), for a mast; 

 around this a framework of timber, after the model of a vessel, was 

 constructed ; all the timbers were carefully fastened together with 

 sennit, and with the requisite curvature ; from the bow a large and 

 long piece of timber projected, and at the stern a rudder was contrived, 

 with its tiller ; but instead of its ordinary movements as with us, it was 

 intended to act vertically, in the way to which they are accustomed 

 in managing or steering their large canoes with an oar; vines and 

 creepers were used for the rigging ; ballast had likewise been placed in 

 the hold. 



This afforded them great amusement, and showed an ingenuity in 

 the construction of this Pa'palangi ship, as they called it, which had 

 cost them much time and labour. 



There is no ceremony at births, or indeed any inconvenience. The 

 mother generally proceeds immediately to the spring, bathes and 

 washes her infant, and at the same time her usual occupations are 

 resumed. The naming of the child frequently takes place some time 



VOL. II. 18 



