Number of collar beams

Mention has been made of the importance attached to the number of collar beams (tauso'anga). While the number indicates the size of the house and the status of the owner, it varies in different villages without apparently impairing the status of those in the villages with a lesser number. Hence, a high chief may have fewer collar beams in his house than a lesser chief in another village because the maximum which happens to exist in his village is less. Within the village itself, however, a distinction of at least one collar beam must exist between high chiefs and talking chiefs. In the village of Nuuuli, Tutuila, the best built house was a new one, with five tiers, owned by a talking chief. Higher than this he could not go for the number in the house of the highest chief of the village was six. There was no restriction on the high chief. If he built a new house of ten tiers, then the talking chief automatically could build up to nine. A difference of at least one had to be | observed to maintain the superior status of the high chief.