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A Grammar and Dictionary of the Samoan Language, with English and Samoan vocabulary

Samoan Poetry

page 41

Samoan Poetry

The Samoan has many different kinds of poetical compositions. Metre is altogether unknown, but the best kinds of poetry are in rhyme. They are mostly responsive, each verse being commenced by a few persons, and this is called the usu; the remaining half being taken up in chorus, and with strict attention to time, by all present; it is called the tali.

I

Popular songs on passing events are, as in other lands, very common. They are sung to the stroke of the paddles when on a journey, or when engaged on any work requiring united exertion.

At the time when religion was beginning to take root, the lovers of darkness thus expressed their regrets at the prospective loss of their pleasures:

Tini, tinio, tinio!
Maumau o mea faamalama,
A tiaʻi e le malo.

II. War Songs

Pe tipa i le lo
Pe tuli fao.

Sua le anefe,
Ta le alogo.
E ula i le iʻa tui ogo.

III. The Fagono

is partly narrative, partly sung by one person;—

1st. ʻO le Fagono. ʻA ʻo Tafitofau la lenei ma Ogafau;

Aue! ʻa ʻo fanau la la tama, ona fanau lea ʻo Tui. Toe fanau ʻo Tui; toe fanau ʻo Tui; toe fanau ʻo Tui; toe fanau ʻo Tui; toe fanau ʻo Tui; toe fanau ʻo Tui; toe fanau ʻo Tui; toe fanau ʻo Tui; toe fanau ʻo Tui; ona fanau lea ʻo Sina. Upu o Fagono; pe moni?
ʻUa leai lava le au uso1 ma lo latou tuafafine; ʻua soʻona matutua,

1 I.e., There was none like them in beauty.

page 42 ma soʻona mananaia, ma lalelei lo latou tuafafine. Le ʻau uso o lo ʻua matutua.

Ona fai atuʻlea lo latou tuafafine, “Tui e, ma Tui ma Tui ma Tui, ʻo lenei ʻua tatou matutua; pe ni a ʻo tatou faiva a fai nei? E lelei ina ia tatou ta tiʻa.” Ona usitaʻi lea i ai ʻo le nuʻu; ona latou ta tìa lea. Ta le tiʻu a Sina; mua i tai. Ta le tiʻa a Sina; mua i uta. Toe ta le tiʻa a Sina; mua i tai. ʻUa leai lava le fafine—ʻua soʻona lalelei; ʻua u mai mata, ʻua ni aiga faʻalala; u mai le tua, ʻua ʻoʻo le malama i Sàua.1
Ona vaaia lea e Sina ʻo le gogo sina, ʻua tipatipa mai tai. Ona faʻapea lea ʻo Sina;

“Oi laʻu tane! ʻo le gogo sina.
ʻOu te manamea i ana tipa.”

Ona fai atu lea ʻo le nuʻu, “Sema e, o mai ia, ina tatou sailia le tane a Sina.” Ona latou fai atu ai lea ia Sina, “Sina e, sau ia; ina e nofo iʻinei; ʻa e matou o e saili i lau tane, o le gogo sina, e ta manamea i ana tipa. Sina e, aua te tauvalaʻau.” Ona latou o ai lea.
Ona tauvalaʻau lea ʻo Sina, “Tui e, ma Tui ma Tui!” Ona sau ai lea ʻo Tuiletafuʻe, ʻo le saualiʻi; ona fefe ai lea ʻo Sina. Ua sau le aitu: ona moe lea i vae o Sina.
Ona o mai lea le au uso tuagane o Sina, ma lana tane, ʻo le gogo sina; ona tepa atu lea ʻua i ai le aitu ia Sina, ona tagi lea.
ʻO Fagono a tagi; ʻa ʻo tagi le tamaloa:—

“Soufuna Sina, soufuna Sina,
Le tama fafine, le feagaiga,
Lota tuafatine, na ʻe tagi i lau tane, ʻo le gogo sina.
E te manamea i ana tipa.
Ifo vanu, aʻe vanu, au manu na.
ʻA e ta alu ita, neʻi ta pau; ta lilia e.”

ʻA ʻo tagi Sina;

“Sole Tui, sau i fale;
Tui e, sau i fale, i ta gagase.
Naʻu valaau, ʻo Tui ma Tui!
Oe mai ai le tasi Tui, ʻo Tuiletafuʻe; le moe nei,
Le tofa i oʻu vae nei
Tui e, sau i fale nei.”

Ona tagi lea ʻo le aupito ane i ai. E faʻapea ʻuma lava a latou tagi.
Ona tagi lea ʻo Sina;

“Sole Tui e, sau i fale;
Sau i fale, i ta gagase.
Naʻu valaau, o Tui ma Tui!
Oe mai ai le tasi Tui, Tuiletafuʻe; le moe nei.
Tui e, sau i fale nei.”

1 A phrase meaning beautiful.

page 43 Tagi le uiʻi;

“Soufuna Sina, le tamafafine,
Lota tuafafine, le feagaiga,
Na ʻe tagi i lau tane, ʻo le gogo sina;
E te manamea i ana tipa.
Ifo vanu, aʻe vanu, au manu na.
ʻA e alu ita nei; ta pau; ta lilia e.”

Ona alu ai lea ʻo le uiʻi, na tago i le lauulu o le aitu; ʻua ave le tasi fuafuati lauulu; ʻua ave, nonoa i laʻau. Toe alu ma le tasi fuafuati lauulu; ave, nonoa i le niu; ʻua faapea solo i laʻau ʻuma. Ona tago atu lea e le tuagane o Sina, ʻua tago i le lima o Sina; ona la sosolo lea. Ona oso atu lea le aitu; oso i sasaʻe, ʻua paʻuʻu ʻuma mai laʻau i sisifo. ʻUa toe oso sisifo, ona paʻuʻu ʻuma mai lea ʻo laʻau i sasaʻe; ona taomia lea le aitu, oti ai.

2d. The Viʻi, the most common of all, is used in praise of chiefs. The first half of each verse is sung by some three or four, and then the latter half is taken up in full chorus. It is accompanied with beating on a mat rolled up, and dancing.

ʻO le Viʻi o Letiutauga
Faʻatali atu e; ʻa ʻo tiu i le manu.
Faʻatali atu e, Tagipo; ʻa ʻo tiu i le manu.
ʻUa ligoligo le ulufanua; ʻa ʻua tau matagi.
A sa matou taumatea, pe ni sasa o papalagi?
Oi, lau tama e! sa f aolioli nei lava i le nuʻu o manu o le tau.
Oi, le ula! e moni o le fuai mamao se aliʻi uei, ʻua gutu i aitu faʻalevao.
Letiutauga, ina folau; po ʻo lelei lava le tagata o le atu toʻelau.
ʻA e le ʻole lea; ina gase moe, ʻo le faiva o tama tane ʻo tau.

3d. The Lagisolo, or funeral dirge, is in form much like the preceding. It is sung slowly, without dancing, in honour of a deceased chief. One of considerable length, in honour of Tato, of Safune, commences—

ʻO le liʻa mai; aue, liʻa mai, &c.1

4th. The Vila, the above, accompanied by clapping of hands, but no dancing. It has also a commencement of its own; thus, and a chorus—

ʻUa taʻafili i mauga lega, ʻua lupe.
Lupe, lupe ulu iva.
ʻO le liʻa mai, aue liʻa mai!
Lupe, lupe ulu iva, &c.

5th. The Talalo is sung slowly, with motion of the hands, and beating the mat. The following is a

1 See p. 45.

page 44

Talalo i Matautu
ʻUa tutunoa, tutunoa,
Au le foa, au le foa,
Tutunoa lenei aso vale.
E le iloa se ata sopovale loʻia e.
Nuʻu a ʻuma si ata sa tane i le utu tau,
Se vaʻa Tufulele, ma nai lagaali o Masefau.
ʻUa faʻaeʻe ma mu ʻatoa le tuavao.
Afu maile fai matatao, Mataia e.
Toli mai sea ʻula e, tau mamao, a galo e.

6th. The Fiti is quite new to Samoans, having been introduced from Fiji. It is accompanied with beating the mat, and motion of the hands.1

7th. The Fatu is sung in honour of a deceased chief, not danced to, nor even used at a dance; more properly in this respect a funeral dirge than the Lagisolo.

Imoaaimanu e i logologo ʻuaʻu sau.
Naʻu suʻilia mai se pupu e logona i vao.
Soufuna faufau, &c.2

8th. The Solo in praise of chief's lands and laumua; sung by one.

Naʻu tipa ifo, tipa ifo i niu-lega.3
Faʻataulia i tafetafe lou fia inu leʻa.4
Fai atu i fale na, le galu teine ma le galu tauleleʻa.
Seʻi latou maia ai se ʻava ʻo i fale na;
Seʻi taumafa ane aliʻi, a lailoa i le tuneva.
A tufa lava, ia oʻu mua, ʻo aʻu ʻo Letuʻuga.
ʻOu te faʻanau ala i Piu;
Seu ai lota vaʻa i fanua;
ʻOu futia se iʻa se lautua;
Faʻataatia i le taumua.

9th. The Muliʻau (including the Mualeva) is like the Viʻi, struck up by two or more, and answered in full chorus, accompanied by the beating of an instrument called the faʻaaliʻi5

O le Mualeva
Aue mauga! mauga o Savaiʻl,
E tuʻu fetaʻi.
E tiga mauga, mauga o Savaiʻi,
E tuʻu fetaʻi.
E fetaitai ma fale,
Ma mauga loa ma Vaete,
Ma utu a lau fau.
Aue mauga, &c.

1 See p. 46.

2 See p. 47.

3 A bathing-place at Safaʻi.

4 A harbour.

5 See p. 48.

page 45 Se pule a le a,
Ma maluatea,
Ma mulimauga o Olomea,
Ma le vao na o masa tuai.
Lopa mai i le Nuanua,
Ma le Afiʻa i mulimauga.
Aue mauga, &c.

ʻO le lagisolo ia Tato
ʻO le liʻa mai, ʻaue liʻa mai;
Tolilaʻau e Tolila.1
ʻA ʻo ai le tala i fafo?
ʻUa le migao, ʻua tala po;
Seʻia ao e faʻataio,
E alaga, ʻua l[gap — reason: unclear]fo le malo;
ʻUa solofa le lagi, ʻua fao.
ʻA matou fa amavae ai,
Saivaiaso,1 ma Tuʻuiletai,1
Luʻulaufasa1 ma Tagatanuʻu.1
ʻO i maua na ʻua o mai,
Na ma ʻOloʻapu2 mai Vaiafai;3
Na ma sailia Faufiliifetai,4
Ai se mea o saosaofaʻi ai.
ʻO Sinasegi1 ma Sinavaʻavaʻai,1
Ai se aloia lua taʻua mai,
Sau i lona lumafale mavae.
Na ma ʻOloʻapu mai Faleʻafa;
ʻO le a maliu ifo sa Tuala.
ʻA oʻo ito le fulugavaʻa.
Talofa i nai tulafale,
ʻA tau ina tatou fetaiaʻi,
Ai lau teva nei, e le aʻe.
ʻI a futu, ʻua soʻo le atu sasaʻe,
ʻO saʻili i le tafatafa ʻi lagi.
Se a ʻea lenci? ʻua ta teʻi,
Segia mai mauli, ʻua ta fefe !
Ta ʻinoʻino i malaga auʻeʻe;
Sa fai atu lava ʻo le vaʻa tele,
Fai la, a tatou gaeʻe;
Ia te lavatia tai tetele.
Ia te tino e faasau e Meto;6
E te alo e mau lava i le solo.
Se faʻamomo i loto, se tuʻu faleupolu.
Faʻafono atu lo tatou na motu,
Siʻosiʻomia le vaʻa la ono.
Filoilupo7 ma Lemaluosamoa,1
Avatu i laua e fai ma fa aoso.
I maliu atu, ʻa ʻua ma i le motu,

1 A woman's name.

2 The name of the ambassador of Safune.

3 The Iva drinking-water.

4 Chief's brother.

6 A reference to a fagono.

7 A woman's name.

page 46 Na ma saʻilia Naumatiutuloa,1
Pe maua i le vavaloloa?
Se gutupoto ia te talasaloa,
O aliʻi ʻua iʻina ʻatoa.
Sema e, ʻo ai ʻea e pisa?
Pe se son le va i le faga?
Pe ni faʻaaliʻi ʻua tata?
Ofo mai se tautai pagota.
Na ʻo Leasiono,2 ma Uta,
Lesiene,3 ma Palepalegaoa,3
Siʻi ifo le vaʻa e nofoafa,
ʻA e toʻalima i Agalela.4
E ifo aʻu ma tagi, ʻa ʻua lupea sina tuʻituʻi.
Le Atua e, to mai sau pule,
Foʻisaʻiina mai Fuatafuti;5
S[gap — reason: unclear]ʻia to ane se matai tuli.
Foʻisaʻiina mai i Fuailalama5
Ia Safune, ʻo taua o le pala;
Ni nai nuʻu na mai Laʻafaga;6
Na ʻo Suʻesuʻe7 lea ma Taga.7
Avatu i laua e fai ma papa
Ia Vaeʻau,7 e fai mou vaʻa;
Tofoilevao7 e fai ma malama.
Alu atu Manu e taʻai tapaʻa;
Lo outou ili, ʻo le sau o Lavaʻa;
ʻA e matafi ane ao valevale,
Ai le fualupe e tau tasi.
Talofa i le fuʻa, nei tauvale,
Neʻi le ʻauga le fao-ʻato8
Ape ane, ʻa ni mea faʻamalama
Avatu le tuaefu9 e togisala
ʻA e tautua na Lefuaivaʻa.10

ʻO le fiti ia Matautu
1.
Lemaile11 ma Lesuniʻula e,11
A avatu ʻupu, tetee mai.12
Neʻi tuʻu i le ʻupu faʻaoso13
A ʻau na i tafeaga,14
Le fia eva gatasi lava15
Seaʻula e, a toli e16
Susuʻi ma faʻatali i nai Lomea e17

1 Tato.

2 Women.

3 Women's names.

3 Women's names.

4 Name of Moana a tulafale.

5 Names of Tato.

5 Names of Tato.

6 Name of a place.

7 People's names.

8 In the war the children of Safune were carried to the fort in baskets.

9 The young meu of the place compared to pigeons.

10 Tato's name.

11 Names of Manono. The people of that island were angry with Matautu.

12 Don't receive the tales which you hear.

13 Do not believe the aggravating words.

14 Of the troops of the conquered party.

15 Who wish to be on an equal footing.

16 When you pluck the fruit of the séa.

17 Make them into a necklace, and wait for Lomea.*

* An emblematic name of Matautu.

page 47 2.
Fai pea si a latou mane,
A lena vao tagata vale
I le lupe1 nei ʻua tufale.
Olotu i Taoa valevale.
A ʻou pefeaina ca?
Tau ina ia e faʻa pea,
E ʻauga i ai Lelomea.
Sea ʻula, &c.
3.
Tu mai, ina a tatou o,
Ma Letaituli2 e pula po.
Seʻi aʻo ni aga ia fofo,
Ma lota mataʻu i le malo,
Neʻi faʻavovo t[gap — reason: unclear]o.
Seaʻula e, &c.
4.
Lemaile, Lemaile, faʻamolemole;
Neʻi mao i le3 ivi o le iʻa.
Foʻi mai e s[gap — reason: unclear]u i Masina.4.
Seʻi tali le Vaʻafaifaiva,5
ʻO loʻo ʻua tali tulaʻi na;
Mona[gap — reason: unclear]asa o uila.
ʻO taeao e tau paipa.
Seaʻula e, &c.

O le fatu ia Suluga
Imoaaimanu6 e, i logologo ʻua aʻu sau.
Na aʻu sailia mai Sepupuelogonaivao.7
Soufuna Faufauiatane8 ma Leʻaunofoitalau,9
Na aʻu sailia mai Sepupuelogonaivao.
Aue Faʻatiu e, ʻua vagana, ʻua aʻu le iloa.
Na aʻu sailia mai Sepupuelogonaivao.
ʻUa muamua mai tala leaga, ʻua aʻu faʻatuamaʻoa;
Ni tala mai o le soʻo o Tigilau;10
ʻUa ʻatoa lava lou aso tau.
A palui liutua taʻiʻau;
Faʻamau fao tulimuliʻau.

1 A reference to Suisala, a chief of Matautu.

2 The name of a young chief.

3 A reference to a chief called Faapoaifoto.

4 The name of a mountain.

5 A reference to the chief Vaʻafagota.

6 The name of a traditionary stone at Falelatai here put to signify the people of the place.

7 One of Suluga's names.

8 A woman who was changed to a stone.

9 The name of a dead chief.

10 Suluga compared to Tigilau.

page 48 Aʻe liuliu a le togapulau;
Si ʻou lalelei ʻua naunau.
ʻA ʻo aʻu lena sina fafine mai Savavau;1
Tiliaui2 lea, e fai ma nofoatau,
I se e mapu i ai Lenaunau.3
ʻOu te talita i ou tafatafa,
Ma ʻou sui lou maseiʻau.
ʻOifea ʻea tupua o le fanua?
Soufuna e, Uluselevalevale,4
Le paepae lei i soloi ane,
Le fanua lea e tuʻulafoaʻi.
O mai ia, ina lua o ia Puana5 ma Talaʻi.5
Seʻi lua silitonua mai ai
Faunana6 ma Alomauganaʻi.7
ʻUa ma o mai, e le i ai;
Saili atu i le alaseaʻe.
Nainai soania le fetuao,
ʻO Tapuitea8 loʻo ʻua sopolagi.
Aue Liʻagogo9 i le talafatai, ʻofea Letaiaua?10
Sulugaiuʻamea lauama,10
Na matatau ma Lefagugata.11
ʻa latou toʻeseʻese ma Lelamatantasiilepa12
Ia Siʻilautoieliʻaga-ʻaeufiʻatoaletuapapa.13
Toimoanaletuliotoga.13
Le usoilei ʻua tagi mai ala
Fagumau ia o Leutuuʻamea,14
Ma Samoa ʻua faʻatautala.

ʻO le Muliʻau ia Tuʻu
1.
E, Tuʻu e ʻua igo i lana sala e;
E, ʻaua le f[gap — reason: unclear]tulia, faitalia lona loto e.
Aue sole Tuʻu, ʻo fea lou fanua?
Aue Tutuila e, o lota nuʻu e mamao.
Fagaliʻi ma Selea le fanua,
Olao, ma Tula, ma Onenoa,
ʻO fanua o Tuʻu e ʻatoa.
To lau sala, ʻa ʻua iloa.
Tuʻu e, ʻua igo i lana sala;
E, ʻaua le fetulia, faitalia lona loto e.
2.
Aue sole Tuʻu e, ʻoifea ou fanua?
Fagalele, ma le tolo i Puava,

1 The name of land belonging to Tigilau.

2 A woman's name.

3 One of Suluga's names.

4 A woman changed into one of these tupua.

5 Names of two tupua at Amoa.

6 A chief of Satapuala.

7 An Amoa chief.

8 The name of a star.

9 A chief of Falelatai.

10 Names of Suluga.

11 Vaʻafusu, chief of Falelatai.

12 Tuiʻaʻana.

13 Suluga.

14 Three handsome brothers.

page 49 Initu, ma Inifaʻatafa,
ʻO fanua o Tuʻuleamaʻaga;
Nofo ai, aua ʻua sala.
Tuʻu e, ʻua igo i lana sala, etc.
3.
Aue sole Tuʻu, ʻofea ou fanua?
Se Olomio mai le Lupeuluiva,1
ʻO i Vaʻagauta,2 ʻo i Vaʻagatai.2
ʻO Letui3 le nuʻu o saualiʻi;
ʻA ʻo Nuʻu3 le malae o aliʻi.
ʻO i Vaifoa4 i malae Filogia.5
E vavae le toga le Puʻaʻivine;6
ʻA galu, fatia Siʻunau.7
Tuʻu e, ʻua igo, etc.
4.
Aue Galegaleaʻe8 i Olofetuʻu.8
I Lealailenau8 ma Tafaʻitoa.8
Mamafiologologo,9 ma Ausoloiago,9
Ma Ititaʻoto,9 ma Tagi,9 ma Aloalo;9
E saʻafi Tuʻu i ona fanua.
Lau sala e faʻapua fua.
E alaala ai Moaaletiale10 se manaia.
Ni ʻava lelei ia atia mai;
Lafo i fafo, ia laina;
Au mai i fale, i maia;
Utufia ni taufa e sui aʻi;
La inu, ma nofonofo vale.
Le sala a Tuʻu ʻua le aʻe.
Tuʻu e, ʻua igo, etc.
5.
ʻO le Pitofau11 o Tuʻu sa lavalava mai,
Ma Leuooutumoso12 na la momoe ai;
Fai ai ana mavaega.
ʻA se tamafafine, pule Faleʻafa;
ʻA se aliʻi avane lona suafa.
ʻA e liliu e ia ia Liʻavaʻa.13
Aua sa faʻamanamana.
Tuʻu e, ʻua igo i lana sala.
E, ʻaua le fetulia, faitalia lona loto e.

1 A traditionary stone at Aopo.

2 The same.

3 A place in Sasina.

4 The drinking-water of Sasina.

5 The malae.

6 A place which divides the south wind.

7 A reef.

8 Pieces of land.

9 Laud of Tuʻu.

10 A name of Tuʻu.

11 The name of a fine mat.

12 The name of a place.

13 The husband's name from whom he had taken the wife. The child was to be attributed to him.

page 50

Samoan Proverbs

Ia lafoia i le fogavaʻa tele; lit., Let it be thrown on the deck of the large canoe. A depreciatory saying of a speaker.

ʻO le fogavaʻa e tasi, One family.

Ua iloa i vaʻa lelea, Of one seldom seen.

Ua le seʻi mau se ala vaʻa, Why not steer a straight course? Applied to a speech having no definite proposition.

Ua mele le manu e Afono, Afono made light of his prosperity.

E pogai i vau, a e liaʻi i ala, It grew in the bush, but it is cast away in the road.

ʻO lalo ifi lenei, This is a secret; lit., This is under the chestnut tree.

ʻO le puta i Tufa, Only a threat.

Tuʻu ia ma paga, In the game of tatia when counted wrongly; applied to anything not paid for.

Ua se vaʻa tu matagi, Of anything quick, like a canoe before the wind.

Ua usiusi-faʻavaʻasavili, To obey like a canoe before the wind.

Ua le seʻi seu faʻaʻalo, To request to be respectful; lit., Why do you not steer out of the way?

Ia tala mea faʻasolo, (of seuga-lupe), To dismiss an assembly.

Fale-taeao e le afiafi, Who sits at home in the morning will not eat in the evening. Of a lazy person.

Taliu a e popoʻe, Of one who is afraid out at sea. He bails out the canoe, but is afraid.

Ua le faasinopu le tautuʻu palapala. A reference to the work of digging tupa. Applied to lazy people who do not help at work.

E le fono paʻa mona vae. The crab did not consult with its legs that they should pinch; they did it of themselves. Applied to youths who get into trouble without consulting the seniors.

ʻO le lima e paia le mata; lit., The hand strikes the eye. Of one who brings trouble on himself.

ʻO le toʻotoʻo sinasina, A white staff; i.e. a new speaker.

ʻO le toʻotoʻo uliuli, A black staff; i.e., an old speaker.

E logo le tuli ona tata, The deaf hears when he is tapped.

E pata le tutu i ona vae, The crab blusters on his feet; a boy blusters when he knows his father is near.

Na ʻo gata e fasi a vaʻai, The snake when about to be killed looks but does not escape. Said of one blamed before his face.

E solo le fai, a e tuʻu le foto, The skate swims away, but leaves its barb.

E le pu se tino i upu, Words don't break bones.

E pala le maʻa, a e le pala upu, Stones rot but not words.

Amuia le masina, e alu ma sau; lit., Blessed is the moon which goes and returns! Men die and return not.

ʻO le ua na fua mai Manuʻa, The rain came from Manuʻa. Spoken of a thing long known beforehand, and yet unprepared for.

Uu tuʻu maʻa, a e maʻa i aʻau, The crabs left the stone, and took a piece of the reef.

Ua solo le lava-lima. To be prosperous.

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ʻO le ʻumu ua vela, Of one who does many things for his country.

ʻO le sola a Faleata, Does not run far, but returns.

ʻO le a sosopo le manu vale i le foga-tia, The foolish bird passes over the tiʻa. Applied by one of himself when speaking before great chiefs.

ʻO le fogatiʻa ua malu maunu, Of one who calls in to get food.

Punapuna a manu fou. To begin heartily and finish weakly.

Ua se vi a toli, Applied to a number falling in a clubbing match.

E i o le ua tafunaʻi, The rain carried by the wind to leeward. Applied to toilalo party.

Ia fili e le tai se agavaʻa, Let the wind choose as to the quickness of a canoe.

Se a lou manoginogi, Spoken to a man of bad conduct. His conduct is no more fragrant.

E lutia i Puava, a e mapu i Fagalele, Hard-pressed paddling in Puava, but at rest in Fagalele.

Ua tagi le fatu ma le eleele, The stones and the earth weep. Applied to the death of a beloved chief.

Ua lelea le laumea, The dry leaves are carried away by the wind. Of troops routed.

Sei logo ia Moo, Make it known to Moo.

Ua o Tapatapao le fealuaʻi, A myth of a mountain that went backwards and forwards between Upolu and Savaiʻi.

Ia tupu i se fusi, May you grow in a swamp, i.e.. quickly. A prayer of a father for his son.

ʻO le ola e taupule-esea, Our lives are decreed to be taken by the gods.

E ese ea le aitu, ese le moemu? Is the aitu different from the moemu? Doing something wrong under another name.

Tapai tataga le pilia, “Little pitchers have ears;” lit., Don't let lizards go near when getting afato, because they will eat them. Applied to children present at conversation of grown people.

E tuai tuai, ta te maʻona ai, It is very long coming, but will be satisfying. Of an oven of food long in preparation, but satisfying. Applied generally to expected but delayed good.

ʻO le mama ma le ponoi, A mouthful and a blow; or of a canoe both leaky and with the waves coming in. Applied to one over-burdened with different tasks.

Ua mua ane lava se fale, First of all a house. Applied to one having neither strength nor means, but who talks of building a house.

Ua o Leaʻea, He is like Leaʻea. Leaʻea shook the bonito off his hook back into the sea. Applied to those rejecting good things when offered.

Ia e vae a Vaeau, Let your feet be those of Vaeau (who went to heaven and back in a day); i.e., Be quick.

Ua o le malaga i Oloolo, It is like the journey of Oloolo. Applied to a thing proposed to be done, but yet left undone. (A Samoan myth.)

Ua se ana, Of something promised, but not given.

A fai ea aʻu mou titi seesee, Am I to be your old ti-leaf girdle? Said to one constantly begging.

Ua ola ipiniu, They used cups for fish-baskets; because there were so few fish caught.

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E toa e le loto, a e pa le noo, Strong in heart, but broken in the back. Of a man whose will is stronger than his body.

Lua mata to ese, Two taro planted away; i.e., Better have a small plantation of your own than be joined with another.

E le papeva se upu, Not a word stumbles.

Aniui, Anini, Aveavai, The town Anini was burning, and Aveavai said it served them right, for they were thieves; but the fire spread to Aveavai, and they, too, were burned out.

Ua aofia i le futiafu e tasi, When the river dries up, water is found only in the bason of the waterfall. Applied to all being of one mind in a council.

Seʻi luaʻi lou le ʻulu taumamao, Pick the breadfruits on the far-off branches first. Applied to any work, etc., to be done. Do the most difficult first.

Tau ina ta ma faʻapoi, Only threaten and not execute.

Ia lafoia i le alo galo, May you be thrown on the bosom of the wave; the front part of the wave where it is easy to swim.

Ia natia i Fatualavai, May our fault be hidden in Fatualavai. May we be forgiven.

Ua se tifitifi. Of a nimble warrior.

Ua se moo le sosolo, He is a lizard crawling. Of a disobedient lad.

Ua se taʻataʻa a le ala, Like grass by the roadside. Of one who has no fixed abode.