Old Samoan Days. 
189 
or American travellers, welcomes us. We all 
file in, and in default of chairs or stools sit with 
our backs against the supporting posts of the 
house, whilst the women reach down from 
cross-beams overhead huge bundles of soft white 
mats with gaily-ornamented edges, and spread 
them in the centre of the house. So far, the old 
woman alone has spoken, it being considered 
the height of bad breeding by Samoans for 
any one to speak to or question strangers in 
public, until the chief or chieftainess in autho¬ 
rity has done so. The mats being spread out, 
and having taken our seats cross-legged thereon, 
Samoan style, the old dame, in a slow, set 
speech, gave us her name, and said that her 
grandson, the chief of the village, with all his 
fighting men, were away at a Fono or native 
political meeting, and would not return till 
night, winding up her remarks by regretting 
that we had sent no notice of our coming, so 
that food and houses might be made ready for 
us ; but that if our “ young men ” would assist 
she would have a pig killed and get food ready 
instantly. 
No sooner said than done ! Up jumps 
Talamai, one of our carriers, and disappears at 
