SOME FOLK-SONGS AND MYTHS FROM SAMOA. 249 



fanga-fanga in the space between Maefu and Lavania ; there is 

 still the rock called the ' Bamboo-pillar ' (Po-ofi) — the rock in 

 which the end of the bamboo fishing-rod was inserted ; for a 

 strong bamboo is used as a rod in fishing for ' bonito.' He took 

 up his abode with Pule, the chief of that place, and got the chief's 

 daughter to wife ; her name was Sina. 



13. Tau-tunu was now old and ugly, but he had the power of 

 renewing his youth and assuming again a handsome appearance. 

 He used to give strict charge to his wife how to conduct herself 

 when he went a-fishing. ' Don't draw up the mat-sides of the 

 house,' said he; 'don't clear away the rubbish; don't bathe; 

 lest the 'bonito' should refuse to bite.' She, however, went 

 and bathed and decorated herself with turmeric ; and then went 

 down to see him fishing. She was surprised at his ugliness, for 

 she had never so seen him before ; he had always before ap- 

 peared handsome. Now, she had with her a basket to put the 

 fish in. He called to her not to touch the fish or the hook. She, 

 however, handled the hook and made it yellow with her turmeric. 

 He was very angry, took up the bamboo, and gave her a severe 

 beating with it, and left her. She followed him, begging him to 

 remain, but he went off and came to Siu-fanga at Tau, and took 

 up his abode for a while with Sio of that place. Sio had two 

 daughters, Manu-ola the elder and Mana the younger ; &c, &c. 

 [Here the story breaks off.] 



Notes to No. XXIV. 

 Intro . — The Stars; the whole system of the astrology of the Baby- 

 lonians was founded on the belief that the prominent stars represented 

 divinities, propitious or adverse, who had control over the affairs of men; 

 similar beliefs prevailed everywhere in the ancient world, and the more 

 modern astrology was a tradition from these Moirai and Parcae; the con- 

 nection of the name Moirai with the Gr. meiromai ' I share/ and meros, 

 ' a part/ suggests that Parcae is from the same root as Lat. pars and 

 partior — a root which is widely spread not only in the Aryan but also in 

 the Shemitic languages. 



Saevo negotio ; our own poet Spenser says — 



Fortune all in equal launce doth sway 

 And of mortal miseries doth make her play. 



