Publisher's Synopsis
Excerpt from A Preliminary Catalogue of the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum of Polynesian Ethnology and Natural History, Vol. 3: New Zealand, Samoa and Other Polynesian Islands; New Hebrides, Fiji, Solomon Islands, New Guinea, Micronesia, Australia
The Samoan Group numbers 13 islands; but only three, Savaii, Upolu and Tutuila are of importance. They range between lat. 13� 30' S., long. 169� W. And lat, 14� 20' S., long. 173� W. Savaii covers 700 squaremiles, Upolu 550, while Tutuila is much smaller and deeply indented by Pango Pango Harbor. The two latter are the most productive. The native population is rapidly decreasing and probably does not exceed Physically the Samoans are a fine looking race of men but are quar'relsome, lazy and lack per severance. Before the introduction of Christianity the only clothing was an apron of ki leaves, a little larger for the women than for the men. Kapa is made as elsewhere but of a poor quality compared with the Hawaiian. Mats are, however, well made both of the hala 'or fala leaves, and of the hibiscus fibre. Samoan houses were muchbetter than the Hawaiian, usually round or elliptical in plan, open all around, but capable of being closed at night by mats. Canoes are made of several patterns, often of planks sewed neatly together, and with outriggers. Triangular sails, formerly of mat, but with the base of the triangle upwards were used in all large canoes. Stone or shell adzes, netting needles, and the circular drill were like those made on Hawaii. As in most Polynesian Legislatures talk was the principal occupation, but the old men improved the time during the windy debates in braiding sennit from-coconut fibre. The native manufactures, tools and weapons are perhaps the least interesting of any large group in the Pacific.
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