Games

Common to east and west. Of seven games tabulated by Linton (19, p. 453), the surfboard and dart throwing are given as common to both areas. Though dart throwing is given merely as present in Samoa and important in some of the eastern localities, the association of the game in Samoa with historical events and oft quoted sayings used by orators shows that it was equally important in the west. The use of the throwing cord with forms of dart throwing has been remarked.

Bowling and coasting which Linton gave as not present in Samoa, have been shown to be definitely present. The important Samoan game of lafonga played with coconut shell discs is present in Mangaia, Cook Islands, in the form of round wooden discs which are pitched in the same way for position on a mat. In both Samoa and Mangaia, the discs are termed tupe.

Eastern area alone. Linton has drawn attention to stilts, kites, and a draft game present in various eastern localities not being present in Samoa.

Western area alone. Of Samoan games not recorded from the east, I can only think of the water tip-cat game of tapalenga and the fiti game of jackstraws.