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Samoan Material Culture

Kites and Flying Leaves

Kites and Flying Leaves

Kites seem to have been unknown to the Samoans. No names, proverbs, or sayings were known to the talking chiefs consulted. When asked questions about kites they said the children flew candlenut leaves to imitate pigeons while chiefs flew tame piegons on a long string.

page 556

Flying leaves. The leaf used is the candlenut leaf (lau lama) and the attempt to make it fly like a piegon is fa'alupe. The game is thus fa'alupe lau lama.

The sides of the leaf are pinched off to make them parallel with the leaf midrib, and the stalk is removed. When a wind is blowing, the leaf is held in the palm of the right hand with the upper surface away from the palm and the stalk end towards the little finger. The thumb and forefinger press in slightly to hold the leaf. The arm is held downwards with the palm upwards. The cast is made by bringing the arm sharply upwards against the wind and letting go the leaf as the back of the hand comes uppermost. The leaf starts off with the stalk end inclined upwards and forwards so that the wind catches it like a kite. The leaf may fly fairly straight, but it usually undulates in waves and darts off to either side as it volplanes along.

Owing to its erratic course, the leaf is often likened to a chief of uncertain mind. His talking chief in remonstrating with him will adjure him not to fa'alupe lau lama, or, in other words, not to allow his mind to dart from" side to side like a candlenut leaf flown as a pigeon.

Angry women, giving vocal expression to their wrath, often spread out their arms and turn from side to side to add force to their remarks. This action is known as fa'alupe lau lama. Spectators beyond hearing, seeing the." action, know that the person is so angry that she is "flying a candlenut leaf."