Society trade marks

Handy (14, p. 17) states that the different societies had some distinctive form of lashing that served to distinguish the buildings made by them. Some of them also used a mark or technical detail in the woodwork. (See fig. 63.) The ainga sa Le Malama used the forked thatch rafter ('aso manga lua) that tradition states was personally conferred on Le Malama by Tangaloa. The trade mark was pointed out to me in a house at Nua, Tutuila. Lashing with sennit (fig. 63a) forms an 'aso fausia. Hence the kava cup title of Le Malama and his representatives in subsequent ceremonial was 'Aso fausia. The 'aso manga lua is represented in more modern times by the two thatch rafters cut out of one piece of wood. Two were noted at Annu'u Island and Vaitongi, Tutuila.

The trade mark of Sao, said to be a star (fetu), was placed on the moa-moa piece at the end of the ridgepole. Search for it proved vain in the Sao houses examined. A builder using the trade mark of another society was reported to the guild. The matter was discussed and the offending member fined.