[16] Tapui. The hieroglyphic signs used by the Samoans to protect their property from thieves. The tapui calls down an automatic magical penalty upon the transgressor. The penalty for stealing from property protected by the cocoanut tapui is boils.
[17] The ceremonial name of the council house of the Tui Manu’a.
[18] The sacred oven of food and the ceremony accompanying its presentation and the presentation of fine mats to the carpenters who have completed a new house.
[19] The ceremonial call of the young men of the village upon a visiting maiden.
[20] The ceremonial perquisite of the talking chief, usually a piece of tapa, occasionally a fine mat.
GLOSSARY OF NATIVE TERMS USED IN THE TEXT
- Aumaga (’aumāga)—the organisation of untitled men in each Samoan village.
- Aualuma—the organisation of unmarried girls past puberty, wives of untitled men and widows.
- Afafine—daughter (man speaking).
- Aiga—relative.
- Atali’i—son (man speaking).
- Avaga—elopement.
- Fa’alupega—the courtesy phrases, recited in formal speeches, which embody the social pattern of each village.
- Fale—house.
- Faletua—“she who sits in the back of the house.” The courtesy term for a chief’s wife.
- Fono—a meeting. Specifically the organisation of titled men of a village, district or island.
- Fitafita—a member of the native marine corps.
- Ifo—to lower oneself to some one whom one has offended or injured.
- Ifoga—the act of doing so.
- Lavalava—a loin cloth, fastened by a twist in the material at the waist.
- Lole—a sort of jelly fish; applied by the natives to candy.
- Malaga—a travelling party; a journey.
- Manaia—the heir-apparent of the principal chief; the leader of the Aumāga; the heir of any important chief whose title carries the privilege of giving a manaia title to his heir.
- Matai—the holder of a title; the head of a household.
- Moetotolo—surreptitious rape.
- Moni—true, real.
- Musu—unwillingness, obstinacy towards any course of action.
- Olomatua—old woman.
- Papalagi—white men; literally, “sky bursters.” Foreign.
- Pua—the frangipani tree.
- Soa—a companion in circumcision; an ambassador in love affairs.
- Soafafine—a woman ambassador in love affairs.
- Siva—to dance; a dance.
- Tama—a child, a son (woman speaking).
- Tamā—father.
- Tamafafine—a child of the distaff side of the house.
- Tamatane—a child of the male line.
- Tapa—bark cloth.
- Taule’ale’a—a member of the Aumaga; an untitled man.
- Taupo—the village ceremonial hostess; the girl whom a high chief has honoured with a title and a distribution of property.
- Tausi—the courtesy term for the wife of a talking chief; literally, “to care for.”
- Tei—a younger sibling.
- Teine—a girl.
- Teinetiti—a little girl.
- Tinā—mother.
- Toa’ina—an old man.
- Tuafafine—female sibling of a male.
- Tuagane—male sibling of a female.
- Tulafale—a talking chief.
- Uso—sibling of the same sex.
NOTE ON THE PRONUNCIATION OF SAMOAN WORDS
- The vowels are all pronounced as in Italian.
- G is always pronounced like NG.
- The Glottal stop is indicated by a (’).
THE END