Summary

Material objects. From the point of view of material culture, Samoan craftsmanship produced little in the objects connected with amusements and games. The people had recourse to the natural material supplied by their environment and expended but little effort in effecting improvements on nature. Children obtained their toys from the leaves of coconuts, their swings and skipping ropes from vines, and small pebbles from the house flooring furnished them with jackstones. The stilt and the surf board which would have required some technique are both doubtful. The coconut was used for tops and teetotums while the wooden top used did not progress far in the way of evolving types of any value. Adolescents and adults did little better. The candlenut leaf furnished the flying pigeon, the discarded aumafuti sticks of the paper mulberry formed jackstraws and the butt end of the coconut leaf midrib provided toboggans and the dummy clubs used in sham fights. Even the important games of dart and disc throwing had recourse to simple sticks and slices of breadfruit or naturally rounded pieces of coral. The pitching discs were the only objects upon which craftsmanship was expended to any extent and they were, as a result, regarded as of some value and carefully preserved. The spears also took some trouble in making. In spite of the simple nature of the material used, they fulfilled the object of giving pleasure and enjoyment to the community.

The social value of the community games was important. The smaller competitions in the same village brought the young people and adults together page 574and gave them some relaxation from the perpetual quest for food on land and sea. The competitions between different sections of a village or different villages brought together a larger group of people on terms of social intercourse. The local people had to provide food for the visitors, spectators as well as competitors, and the occasions were social events in which all feasted as the foundation of enjoyment. Singing and dancing added to the festive nature of such occasions. A Polynesian attending the sports of people of a higher culture is struck by the lack of organized hospitality in providing free food and drink which is so characteristic of his own culture. In the return game played at the other village, the hospitality previously received was returned, if possible with added interest. In thus promoting social intercourse of a friendly and enjoyable nature, games of a competitive character between different villages held an important place in native society.