S AM O AN GROUP. 149 



younger portions are gone on one of these malangas, or journeys. 

 During these expeditions, a sort of trade is frequently carried on. The 

 different portions of the inhabitants are 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 distributed 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 entertained, 

 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 complimentary 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 entertainment. 

 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 hospitality. 

 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- 



N2 



