1. |
Septennial observances. |
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Gen. viii., 10. And he stayed yet other seven days, &c. |
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Deut. xv., 1. At the end of every seven years thou shalt make a release. |
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Septennial Observances of the Samoans |
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1. The fire of ‘Naiufi’ was kept burning continuously for seven days. The ‘Naiufi’ was a very sacred kind of shark and so seldom seen, that, whenever one was caught, the fishermen used to keep a fire burning night and day for seven days. |
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2. The fire of a man who ‘eats men’ (a warrior) was kept burning in his honour for seven days. This was done for any one who made himself illustrious in battle. |
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3. The number seven was also observed in all matters that concerned the ‘aitu’ or minor gods. Feasts to them were often appointed seven days in advance; the order was given thus:—‘Let the feast be made seven days hence.' |
2. |
Circumcision. |
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Gen. xvii., 10. Every man child among you shall be circumcised. |
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Joshua v., 2. Make thee sharp knives and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time. |
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Samoa.—The Samoans also have circumcision for cleanliness and manliness. |
3. |
Bespeaking attention. |
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Gen. xxiii., 6, 11, 15. Hear us, my lord. |
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Samoa.—The Samoans use the same form of address. |
4. |
The giving of names. |
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Gen. xxvi., 20, 22. He called the name of the well Esek [‘strife']. |
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Gen. xviii., 12. Therefore Sarah laughed within herself. |
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Gen. xxi., 3. Abraham called the name of his son Isaac. |
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Also Gen. xxix., 32; xxx., 24; xxxv., 18. |
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Samoa.—Names are given from circumstances attending birth. Family names are hereditary. Names are given to places from events associated with them. |
5. |
The changing of names. |
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Gen. xxviii., 19. And he called the name of that place Bethel; but the name of that city was called Luz at the first.page 142 |
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Samoa—The Samoans change names for similar reasons. |
6. |
A feast at a marriage. |
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Gen. xxix., 22. And Laban gathered together all the men of the place and made a feast. |
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Samoa.—The Samoans have a feast at a marriage. |
7. |
Presents to great men. |
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Gen. xliii., 11—15. Carry down the man a present. |
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Samoa.—Samoans always take a present when paying a visit of respect or friendship to a superior. |
8. |
Benjamin's mess. |
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Gen. xliii., 34. And he took and sent messes unto them from before him. |
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Samoa.—Samoan meals are served as here recorded. |
9. |
Natural eloquence. |
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Gen. xliv., 18 to the end. Oh, my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord's ears, &c. |
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Samoa.—A Samoan orator, or the principal man in a family, has naturally a readiness for such eloquence as this in similar circumstances. Samoan orators have a habit of giving details as here. |
10. |
Embalming. |
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Gen. 1., 2, 26. And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. Also 2 Chron. xvi., 14. |
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Samoa.—Embalming was an ancient Samoan custom and was called ‘atualala,’ but is now lost. See Turner's “Nineteen Years in Polynesia.” |
11. |
Mourning for the dead. |
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Gen. 1., 4, 10, 11. And when the days of his mourning were past, Joseph &c. |
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Samoa.—The Samoans have different stages of mourning for the dead. See Turner's “Nineteen Years in Polynesia.” |
12. |
Doing reverence to superiors. |
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Gen. 1., 18. And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold we be thy servants.page 143 |
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Samoa.—The Samoan ifoga, ‘bowing down, as an act of submission (from ifo ‘down'), is similar to this. |
13. |
Tatooing. |
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Lev. xix., 28. Ye shall not… print any marks upon you. |
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Samoa.—The Samoans, as is well-known, tatoo their bodies. |
14. |
Songs of celebration. |
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Num. xxi., 17. Then Israel sang this song. |
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Judges v., 1. Then sang Deborah… on that day, saying, &c. |
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Samoa.—The Samoans celebrate in song all important events in their experience. |
15. |
The invoking of a curse. |
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Num. xxii., 6. Come now, therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people. |
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Num. xxiii., 7. Come, curse me Jacob, and defy Israel. |
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Samoa.—The Samoans have o le tagata na fai tu'i, ‘the man who devotes to destruction,’ like Balaam. They curse an object of hatred or dread, and use enchantments against it. |
16. |
New year offerings. |
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Num. xxviii., 11 - 15. And, in the beginning of your months, ye shall offer a burnt offering to the Lord. |
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Samoa.—The principal feast of the year is that in honour of Tangaloa-fua. See “List of Months.” |
17. |
Wizards, enchanters, &c. |
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Deut. xviii., 10, 11. There shall not be found among you… an enchanter, a witch, or a charmer, &c. |
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Samoa.—The Samoans consult persons who practise magical arts. |
18. |
Messengers run. |
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Josh. vii., 22. So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran unto the tent. |
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Samoa.—Samoan messengers, sent in such a case, would do exactly the same thing. Young men, sent on a errand by the council (fono) of chiefs in Samoa, would set off at a run. |
19. |
Heads cut off in war. |
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Judges vii., 25. They brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon on the other side Jordan. Also 2 Sam. iv., 7, 8. |
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Samoa.—The Samoans do the same.page 144 |
20. |
The use of slings and stones in war. |
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Judges xx., 16. Among all this people [of war], there were seven hundred chosen men left handed; every one could sling stones at a hair-breadth and not miss. |
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Samoa.—The Samoans use slings and stones in war. |
21. |
Run-away wives. |
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Judges xix., 2, 3. And her husband arose and went after her. |
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Samoa.—There is a great deal of this sort of thing in Samoa, and especially as in verse 3. A man goes after a fugitive wife, and the wife's family tries to keep him among themselves. |
22. |
Stepping over the threshold. |
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1 Sam. v., 5. Therefore neither the priests of Dagon… tread on the threshold of Dagon; cf. Zeph. i. 9. |
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Samoa.—The Samoans step over the threshold of their houses in reverential remembrance of Tae-o-Tangaloa. See ‘Tala i le Sega.' |
23. |
A choice portion of food for an honoured guest. |
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1 Sam. ix., 22, 24. And the cook took up the shoulder. and set it before Saul. |
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Samoa.—Samoans reserve a choice portion for an expected guest, a leg or a sirloin of pork, &c. |
24. |
Demoniacal possessions. |
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1 Sam. xvi., 14, 15, 23. An evil spirit from the Lord troubled him. |
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Samoan.—The Samoan wizards use charms to drive evil spirits out of the bodies of those possessed by them. |
25. |
Single combat in war. |
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1 Sam. xvii., 1 — 8. Choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me, &c. |
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Samoa.—Armies place themselves opposite to each other, a cleared space between; champions are chosen to fight for them. |
26. |
Familiar spirits. |
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1 Sam. xxviii., 7 — 19. Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, &c.page 145 |
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Samoa.—The wizards pretend that they are speaking under the influence of a spirit. |
27. |
Use of parables. |
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2 Sam. xii., 1 — 4. There were two men in one city; the one rich and the other poor. |
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Samoa.—The Samoan traditions are often symbolical representations of real events. |
28. |
Relations between brothers and sisters. |
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2 Sam. xiii., 10. And Amnon said unto Tamar, Bring the meat into the chamber, that I may eat of thine hand. |
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Samoa.—Brothers in Samoa scrupulously shun the doing of anything unseemly in the presence of their sisters, and are supposed to be above suspicion. |
29. |
Long hair. |
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2 Sam. xiv., 26. The hair was heavy on him; cf. also xviii., 9. |
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Samoa.—Young chiefs and others wear long hair. |
30. |
Head officers. |
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1 Kings iv., 7. And Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel. |
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Samoa.—The office and duties of the tula-fale somewhat resemble this. |
31. |
Funereal burnings. |
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2 Chron. xvi., 14. And they made a very great burning for him. xxi., 19. And his people made no burning for him. |
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Jer. xxxiv., 5. But thou shalt die in peace; and with the burnings of thy fathers, &c. |
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Samoa.—The Samoans have burnings in honour of deceased kings and chiefs o le lagi; but they withhold the burnings in the case of cruel and despotic ones. Cf. the history of Tui Manu'a taalolo. |
32. |
Calling the name of the chief who is to drink. |
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Jer. xxv., 17. Then I took the cup… and made all nations to drink. |
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Samoa.—It is the custom at all feasts to call out the name of the chief who is next to drink.page 146 |
33. |
Rod or staff of office. |
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Ez. xxi., 10 et al. It contemneth the rod of my son. |
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Samoa.—The Samoan to'o-to'o, ‘a rod or staff of office,'is a sign of authority. |