SOME FOLK-SONGS AND MYTHS FROM SAMOA. 143 



Samoa. — The Samoan ifoga, { bowing down, as an act of sub- 

 mission (from ifo ' down '), is similar to this. 



13. Tatooing. 



Lev. xix., 28. Ye shall not . . . print any marks upon you. 

 Samoa. — The Samoans, as is well-known, tatoo their bodies. 



14. Songs of celebration. 



Num. xxi., 17. Then Israel sang this song. 

 Judges v., 1. Then sang Deborah ... on that day, saying, <fcc. 

 Samoa. — The Samoans celebrate in song all important events 

 in their experience. 



15. The invoking of a curse. 



Num. xxii., 6. Come now, therefore, I pray thee, curse me this 

 people. 



Num. xxiii., 7. Come, curse me Jacob, and defy Israel. 



Samoa. — The Samoans have o le tagata nafai tu'i, 'the man 

 who devotes to destruction,' like Balaam. They curse an 

 object of hatred or dread, and use enchantments against it. 



16. New year offerings. 



Num. xxviii., 11 - 15. And, in the beginning of your months, 

 ye shall offer a burnt offering to the Lord. 



Samoa. — The principal feast of the year is that in honour of 

 Tangaloa-fua. See " List of Months." 



17. Wizards, enchanters, &c. 



Deut. xviii., 10, 11. There shall not be found among you . . 



an enchanter, a witch, or a charmer, &c. 

 Samoa. — The Samoans consult persons who practise magical arts. 



18. Messengers run. 



Josh, vii., 22. So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran unto 

 the tent. 



Samoa. — Samoan messengers, sent in such a case, would do 

 exactly the same thing. Young men, sent on a errand by 

 the council (fono) of chiefs in Samoa, would set off at a run. 



19. Heads cut off in war. 



Judges vii., 25. They brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to 

 Gideon on the other side Jordan. Also 2 Sam. iv., 7, 8. 

 Samoa. — The Samoans do the same. 



