SOME FOLK-SONGS AND MYTHS FROM SAMOA. 145 



Samoa. — The wizards pretend that they are speaking under the 

 influence of a spirit. 



27. Use of parables. 



2 Sam. xii., 1 — 4. There were two men in one city ; the one 

 rich and the other poor. 



Samoa. — The Samoan traditions are often symbolical repre- 

 sentations of real events. 



28. Relations between brothers and sisters. 



2 Sam. xiii., 10. And Amnon said unto Tamar, Bring the 

 meat into the chamber, that I may eat of thine hand. 



Samoa. — Brothers in Samoa scrupulously shun the doing of 

 anything unseemly in the presence of their sisters, and are 

 supposed to be above suspicion. 



29. Long hair. 



2 Sam. xiv., 26. The hair was heavy on him ; cf. also xviii., 9. 

 Samoa. — Young chiefs and others wear long hair. 



30. Head officers. 



1 Kings iv., 7. And Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel. 

 Samoa. — The office and duties of the tula-fale somewhat resem- 

 ble this. 



31. Funereal burnings. 



2 Chron. xvi., 14. And they made a very great burning for 



him. xxi., 19. And his people made no burning for him. 

 Jer. xxxiv., 5. But thou shalt die in peace ; and with the 



burnings of thy fathers, &c. 

 Samoa. — The Samoans have burnings in honour of deceased 



kings and chiefs o le lagi; but they withhold the burnings 



in the case of cruel and despotic ones. Cf. the history of 



Tui Manu'a taalolo. 



32. Calling the name of the chief who is to drink. 



Jer. xxv., 17. Then I took the cup . . . and made all nations 



to drink. 

 Samoa. — It is the custom at all feasts to call out the name of 



the chief who is next to drink. 



J— October 7, 1891. 



