Samoan Tradition Dies

Hard Taxi-Driver Woos a Village Maid

From Our Own Correspondent APIA, March 5.

TT is not generally realized that in spite of the European and modern influence on the younger generation of Samoans, which is especially visible in Apia and its surroundings, older natives still religi ously observe their ancient time-hallowed laws and traditions.

In Leulumoega, the important old capital of the whole of the Samoan Islands, the Taupou (village maid) discredited her high position by running away with a lover— a Samoan youth employed as a taxi-driver.

Indignation waxed high in the village, and in old times the life of the offender might have been in jeopardy. A court composed of the chiefs and elders of the village ( Ali’i and Faipule) was hurriedly called.

After due deliberation, they pronounced that the mother of the girl had neglected her responsible task of guarding the maiden, thereby causing all the trouble.

The mother was not only fined three large pigs, but also banned from the village as a warning to all offenders against Samoan moral precepts.

In anothef recent case, a chief’s daugh ter, of Leulumoega, had married a chief of the island of Manono. For some reason or other, apparently tiring of her husband, she ran away with a lover, gravely com promising her village of origin. Leulu moega, by her rash act. According to Samoan custom, the whole village of Leu lumoega had to humble themselves before the Manono village.

A large crowed of Leulumoega people went to Manono for the ifoga, when the offender sits with bowed head in front of the house of the offended party, craving forgiveness, and remaining till even the most implacable adversary stretches out his hand in reconciliation. Though the Manono chief refused to soften for a very long time, at last reconciliation was ob tained and general rejoicing took place, after which the relieved Leulumoega people returned home.