Protection of houses

The weakness of Samoan houses is the join of the rounded ends to the end rafters of the middle section. There is danger that the wind will lift the thatch directly, and take the roof with it. To protect the thatch, heavy coconut leaves are tied together in pairs by their tip ends and straddled over the ridge. They hang down on either side, and by the weight of their midribs help to keep the thatch down. Covering the thatch in this manner is termed tanufale. (See Plate I, D.)

The danger of the ridging being blown off is guarded against in an additional manner by using the trunks of banana plants. Lengths of these are partly cut through the middle to allow of their being bent over the ridge. The weight is greater than coconut leaves, and a number of them are straddled along the ridge.

To prevent the wind blowing into the house during storms, the pola wall screens are reinforced by standing green coconut leaves closely together outside the lowered screens. Ropes are then passed around outside of them and lashed to the wall posts. The leaves may be plaited together. This protection is termed pālepoi or pāletā.

An additional protection against the wind entering the house and endangering the roof by lifting it off, is by means of a fence (tali matangi—matangi, wind). Posts are erected about six feet away on the windward side of the house and a single rail lashed to them. Green coconut leaves are set upright and closely together. They are lashed to the rail and thus form a close wall to break the force of the wind. The fence is higher than the wall plates, and prevents the force of the wind being directed against the weak walls of the house.