SOME FOLK-SONGS AND MYTHS FKOM SAMOA. 141 



XXIII. — Samoan Customs, 

 Analogous to those of the Israelites. 



1. Septennial observances. 



Gen. viii., 10. And he stayed yet other seven days, &c. 

 Deut. xv., 1. At the end of every seven years thou shalt make 

 a release. 



Septennial Observances of the Samoans. 



1. The fire of ' Naiufi ' was kept burning continuously for seven days. 

 The ' Naiufi ' was a very sacred kind of shark and so seldom seen, that, 

 whenever one was caught, the fishermen used to keep a fire burning 

 night and day for seven days. 



2. The fire of a man who ' eats men ' (a warrior ) was kept burning in 

 his honour for seven days. This was done for any one who made himself 

 illustrious in battle. 



3. The number seven was also observed in all matters that concerned 

 the e aitu ' or minor gods. Feasts to them were often appointed seven 

 days in advance; the order was given thus: — f Let the feast be made 

 seven days hence.' 



2. Circumcision. 



Gen. xvii., 10. Every man child among you shall be circumcised. 

 Joshua v., 2. Make thee sharp knives and circumcise again 



the children of Israel the second time. 

 Samoa. — The Samoans also have circumcision for cleanliness 



and manliness. 



3. Bespeaking attention. 



Gen. xxiii., 6, 11, 15. Hear us, my lord. 



Samoa. — The Samoans use the same form of address. 



4. The giving of names. 



Gen. xxvi., 20, 22. He called the name of the well Esek ['strife']. 

 Gen. xviii., 12. Therefore Sarah laughed within herself. 

 Gen. xxi., 3. Abraham called the name of his son Isaac. 

 Also Gen. xxix., 32 ; xxx., 24 ; xxxv., 18. 

 Samoa. — Names are given from circumstances attending birth. 



Family names are hereditary. Names are given to places 



from events associated with them. 



5. The changing of names. 



Gen. xxviii., 19. And he called the name of that place Bethel; 

 but the name of that city was called Luz at the first. 



