138 SAMOAN GROUP. 



before its birth, for sex makes no difference in the names, which are 

 given indiscriminately to males and females. 



The mothers often suckle their children until they are six years old ; 

 and I was told of an instance where a woman gave nourishment to 

 three children of different ages at once, the eldest removing the 

 youngest sometimes by force from the mother's breast. 



It is their practice to wash the children frequently in the fresh-water 

 streams. 



When a native wishes to get a wife, the consent of the chief is first 

 obtained. Then he takes a basket of bread-fruit, and offers it to the 

 girl of his choice. His suit is considered as accepted if she partakes 

 of it. He must then pay her parents a certain price for her, which 

 varies with the station and ability of the parties. A chief's daughter is 

 valued high, viz., at half a dozen hatchets and as many fathoms of cloth. 



Another mode of courtship is to go to the house of the object of 

 attachment or desire, and be entertained. If the family show a friendly 

 feeling towards the young man and eat with him, his addresses are 

 favourably received. The formal offer is made by a large present to 

 the family of the female, which being accepted, the match is made, and 

 if refused, the courtship is at an end. The parents expect their children 

 to abide by their decision. The " Malo" party have been in the habit 

 of taking wives from their conquered enemies when they thought 

 proper. At a marriage ceremony a great feast is made, particularly 

 if it be a chief's. 



A man is at liberty to repudiate his wife and marry again on certain 

 conditions, but the woman cannot leave her husband without his 

 consent. 



Adultery was formerly punished with death, and is very seldom 

 committed. Among single women, intercourse with a Samoan before 

 marriage, is a reproach, but not with transient foreigners. 



It is a common practice for parents to make a present of their 

 children to chiefs or others, who adopt the child as their own, and 

 treat it ever after as such. After it is grown up, one-half of its earn- 

 ings goes to its adopted parent. This custom gives the chiefs many 

 adopted children of both sexes, who continue to live with them, and 

 are in all respects treated as their own ; and spreads their connexions 

 far and wide. 



In their burials at Upolu, they have but little ceremony. The body 

 is enveloped in many folds of tapa, and deposited, as has already been 

 described at Tutuila, with the ti planted around. No utensils, arms, 

 &c, are deposited with the bodies ; for, according to their belief, they 

 have these things provided for them in their Elysium. A feast is made 



