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gone upon by proxy； conversation； which is largely political； and
the delights of public oratory； fill in the long hours。
But the special delight of the Samoan is the MALANGA。 When people
form a party and go from village to village； junketing and
gossiping； they are said to go on a MALANGA。 Their songs have
announced their approach ere they arrive； the guest…house is
prepared for their reception； the virgins of the village attend to
prepare the kava bowl and entertain them with the dance； time flies
in the enjoyment of every pleasure which an islander conceives； and
when the MALANGA sets forth； the same welcome and the same joys
expect them beyond the next cape； where the nearest village nestles
in its grove of palms。 To the visitors it is all golden； for the
hosts； it has another side。 In one or two words of the language
the fact peeps slyly out。 The same word （AFEMOEINA） expresses 〃a
long call〃 and 〃to come as a calamity〃； the same word （LESOLOSOLOU）
signifies 〃to have no intermission of pain〃 and 〃to have no
cessation； as in the arrival of visitors〃； and SOUA； used of
epidemics； bears the sense of being overcome as with 〃fire； flood；
or visitors。〃 But the gem of the dictionary is the verb ALOVAO；
which illustrates its pages like a humorous woodcut。 It is used in
the sense of 〃to avoid visitors；〃 but it means literally 〃hide in
the wood。〃 So； by the sure hand of popular speech； we have the
picture of the house deserted； the MALANGA disappointed； and the
host that should have been quaking in the bush。
We are thus brought to the beginning of a series of traits of
manners； highly curious in themselves； and essential to an
understanding of the war。 In Samoa authority sits on the one hand
entranced； on the other； property stands bound in the midst of
chartered marauders。 What property exists is vested in the family；
not in the individual； and of the loose communism in which a family
dwells； the dictionary may yet again help us to some idea。 I find
a string of verbs with the following senses： to deal leniently
with； as in helping oneself from a family plantation； to give away
without consulting other members of the family； to go to strangers
for help instead of to relatives； to take from relatives without
permission； to steal from relatives； to have plantations robbed by
relatives。 The ideal of conduct in the family； and some of its
depravations； appear here very plainly。 The man who （in a native
word of praise） is MATA…AINGA； a race…regarder； has his hand always
open to his kindred； the man who is not （in a native term of
contempt） NOA； knows always where to turn in any pinch of want or
extremity of laziness。 Beggary within the family … and by the less
self…respecting； without it … has thus grown into a custom and a
scourge； and the dictionary teems with evidence of its abuse。
Special words signify the begging of food； of uncooked food； of
fish； of pigs； of pigs for travellers； of pigs for stock； of taro；
of taro…tops； of taro…tops for planting； of tools； of flyhooks； of
implements for netting pigeons； and of mats。 It is true the beggar
was supposed in time to make a return； somewhat as by the Roman
contract of MUTUUM。 But the obligation was only moral； it could
not be； or was not； enforced； as a matter of fact； it was
disregarded。 The language had recently to borrow from the
Tahitians a word for debt； while by a significant excidence； it
possessed a native expression for the failure to pay … 〃to omit to
make a return for property begged。〃 Conceive now the position of
the householder besieged by harpies； and all defence denied him by
the laws of honour。 The sacramental gesture of refusal； his last
and single resource； was supposed to signify 〃my house is
destitute。〃 Until that point was reached； in other words； the
conduct prescribed for a Samoan was to give and to continue giving。
But it does not appear he was at all expected to give with a good
grace。 The dictionary is well stocked with expressions standing
ready； like missiles； to be discharged upon the locusts … 〃troop of
shamefaced ones；〃 〃you draw in your head like a tern；〃 〃you make
your voice small like a whistle…pipe；〃 〃you beg like one
delirious〃； and the verb PONGITAI； 〃to look cross；〃 is equipped
with the pregnant rider； 〃as at the sight of beggars。〃
This insolence of beggars and the weakness of proprietors can only
be illustrated by examples。 We have a girl in our service to whom
we had given some finery； that she might wait at table； and （at her
own request） some warm clothing against the cold mornings of the
bush。 She went on a visit to her family； and returned in an old
tablecloth； her whole wardrobe having been divided out among
relatives in the course of twenty…four hours。 A pastor in the
province of Atua； being a handy； busy man； bought a boat for a
hundred dollars； fifty of which he paid down。 Presently after；
relatives came to him upon a visit and took a fancy to his new
possession。 〃We have long been wanting a boat；〃 said they。 〃Give
us this one。〃 So； when the visit was done； they departed in the
boat。 The pastor； meanwhile； travelled into Savaii the best way he
could； sold a parcel of land； and begged mats among his other
relatives； to pay the remainder of the price of the boat which was
no longer his。 You might think this was enough； but some months
later； the harpies； having broken a thwart； brought back the boat
to be repaired and repainted by the original owner。
Such customs； it might be argued； being double…edged； will
ultimately right themselves。 But it is otherwise in practice。
Such folk as the pastor's harpy relatives will generally have a
boat； and will never have paid for it； such men as the pastor may
have sometimes paid for a boat； but they will never have one。 It
is there as it is with us at home： the measure of the abuse of
either system is the blackness of the individual heart。 The same
man； who would drive his poor relatives from his own door in
England； would besiege in Samoa the doors of the rich； and the
essence of the dishonesty in either case is to pursue one's own
advantage and to be indifferent to the losses of one's neighbour。
But the particular drawback of the Polynesian system is to depress
and stagger industry。 To work more is there only to be more
pillaged； to save is impossible。 The family has then made a good
day of it when all are filled and nothing remains over for the crew
of free…booters； and the injustice of the system begins to be
recognised even in Samoa。 One native is said to have amassed a
certain fortune； two clever lads have individually expressed to us
their discontent with a system which taxes industry to pamper
idleness； and I hear that in one village of Savaii a law has been
passed forbidding gifts under the penalty of a sharp fine。
Under this