Terminology

To understand the difficulty of adopting the terms used in architecture, it is necessary to stress that in constructing the framework, a different order was pursued to that for which the words in English dictionaries were framed. After the ridgepole had been supported in position, the rafters were attached to it. The rafters were then supported by temporary struts and the wall plates and purlins attached to the rafters. In the guest houses, the purlins were attached to the inner and not the outer side of the rafters. Collar beams were then stretched, not between opposite pairs of rafters, but between opposite principal purlins. The collar beams thus took the main part of the weight of the roof. The wall posts were added last and were usually left to the unskilled labor of the owner's family. The framework was built in three sections; the middle rectangular section first, and then the two end sections. In the rounded end sections, the purlins had to be arched.

Beams are horizontal elements of the framework running transversely to the long axis of the building. There are two kinds: collar beams (so'a) extend between opposite principal purlins and are lashed to them and to the middle supporting posts or the king posts, thus preventing the inward thrust of the rafters due to the weight of the roof; a tie beam (utupoto) is supported on an opposite pair of lateral supporting posts and supports the king post.

An eave batten (langolau, niufafo, or atuao) is attached to the outer side of the lower ends of the rafters. It supports the lowest layer of thatch and assists in defining the eaves.

Posts (pou) are vertical elements which support the roof. There are three forms: the king post (pou 'au'au or te'e 'au'au) extends between the tie beam and the ridgepole to both of which it is lashed; supporting posts (pou tu) support the ridgepole either directly by being placed in the middle line or indirectly by being placed laterally in opposite pairs which support a tie beam and a king post; wall posts (pou lalo) are placed round the outer margin of the house and are lashed to the wall plate.

Purlins (fa'alava). The purlins are elements placed between the ridgepole and the wall plate supporting the rafters at right angles. There are three kinds: principal side purlins (fatafata-a-fale, la'au matua, or amoamo) are straight purlins in the middle section of the house; principal end purlins (fau) are arched purlins in the rounded end sections; intermediate purlins (luanga or pae'aso) are slender rods spaced between the principal purlins in all sections of the house.

Rafters. These oblique elements, which, by extending between the ridgepole and the wall plate, give slope to the roof, are of two kinds: principal rafters (iviivi, la'au fange'a or fatunga), stout rafters which give support to the principal purlins and the wall plate; page 11and thatch rafters ('aso), slender rods to which the roof thatch is attached. They correspond to the common rafters in architecture.

Ridgepoles. The ridgepole forms the ridge of the roof. Of these, there are two: the principal ridgepole ('au'au), directly supported by supporting posts or king posts and supporting the rafters of the middle section of the house; the upper ridgepole ('au'au lunga) is smaller and runs parallel above the principal ridgepole. It is supported on the crossed upper ends of the rafters and is used for securing the ridge sheets.

Struts (te'e). These are timbers used in construction to resist thrust or lengthwise pressure. Except for a few in the long guest house, they are of a temporary nature.

Wall plate (amo pou and fau lalo). This is the horizontal element which extends between the upper ends of the wall posts giving some support, in the completed house, to the rafters. Those of the middle section are the amo pou. The fau lalo is the curved wall plate of the rounded end sections and really corresponds to a curb plate.