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Samoa Under the Sailing Gods

IV

IV

Arrogance on the part of certain of the Faipules, even in every-day life, had become apparent. This is not an easy thing to prove, but I will elaborate on a seemingly trivial thing, concerning the Faipule of the Salega district, brought up in due course before the Royal Commission.

Bonito (large mackerel) fishing is regarded among the Samoans not merely as a means of getting food, but also as a sport; bound by numerous rules of etiquette, hereditary right, and ceremonial. To drop a fish, after striking the hook (made of turtle-shell with a pearl-shell haft), being liable to alarm the whole shoal, is considered a most clumsy misdemeanour; and by immemorial custom anyone so doing—be he the highest chief in the land—must submit meekly to abuse from the occupants of the other canoes in the fishing-fleet. This is part of the game. Should he repeat the offence the offender will sieze his paddle and make his hardest for the land. Before it returns ashore, one may see the fleet of canoes stop outside the reef, while those anglers who have been unlucky are given a share of the catch, and the master-fisherman makes a speech and thanks everyone for the good sportsmanship displayed.

The following evidence was given before the Royal Commission:

"Have you anything to say concerning the 'Faipule'?—He is the leader of troubles in our district.

"What trouble? Can you give us any definite troubles?—He used bad language when we were out fishing. (Here followed an explanation of the Samoan custom of bonito-fishing.1) Tuisalega dropped his fish and everybody used bad language to him, as they had a perfect right to do in such circumstances. He stood up and said he would like to know who used that bad language page 202and he would fight them. That is not the Samoan custom. It nearly created bloodshed out there. The people were going to kill him, but I stopped that.

"Were the people so angry that they wanted to kill him: do you really mean that?—It was true."

I can remember the stir that the report of this occurrence occasioned in Falelima, in the adjacent district several miles away. It was something to the native mind almost incredible, although a small thing in the eyes of Europeans.

1 Not reproduced in the printed evidence.