SAMOAN POETRY

The Samoan has many different kinds of poetical compositions. Metre is altogether unknown,
but the best kinds of poetry are in rhyme. They are mostly responsive, each verse being
commenced by a few persons, and this is called the usu; the remaining half being taken up in
chorus, and with strict attention to time, by all present; it is called the tali.

Popular songs on passing events are, as in other lands, very common. They are sung to
the stroke of the paddles when on a journey, or when engaged on any work requiring united
exertion.
At the time when religion was beginning to take root, the lovers of darkness thus
expressed their regrets at the prospective loss of their pleasures:
Tini, tinio, tinio!
Maumau o mea faamalama,
A tia‘i e le malo.

II. War Songs

Pe tipa i le lo
Pe tuli fao.
Sua le anefe,
Ta le alogo.
E ula i le i‘a tui ogo.

III. The Fagono

is partly narrative, partly sung by one person;—

1st. ‘O le Fagono. ‘A ‘o Tafitofau la lenei ma Ogafau;
Aue! ‘a ‘o fanau la la tama, ona fanau lea ‘o Tui. Toe fanau ‘o Tui; toe fanau ‘o Tui; toe fanau
‘o Tui; toe fanau ‘o Tui; toe fanau ‘o Tui; toe fanau ‘o Tui; toe fanau ‘o Tui; toe fanau ‘o Tui;
toe fanau ‘o Tui; ona fanau lea ‘o Sina. Upu o Fagono; pe moni?
‘Ua leai lava le au uso1 ma lo latou tuafafine; ‘ua so‘ona matutua,
1
I.e., There was none like them in beauty.

ma so‘ona mananaia, ma lalelei lo latou tuafafine. Le ‘au uso o lo ‘ua matutua.

Ona fai atu‘lea lo latou tuafafine, “Tui e, ma Tui ma Tui ma Tui, ‘o lenei ‘ua tatou matutua; pe
ni a ‘o tatou faiva a fai nei? E lelei ina ia tatou ta ti‘a.” Ona usita‘i lea i ai ‘o le nu‘u; ona latou
ta tìa lea. Ta le ti‘u a Sina; mua i tai. Ta le ti‘a a Sina; mua i uta. Toe ta le ti‘a a Sina; mua i tai.
‘Ua leai lava le fafine—‘ua so‘ona lalelei; ‘ua u mai mata, ‘ua ni aiga fa‘alala; u mai le tua,
‘ua ‘o‘o le malama i Sàua.1
Ona vaaia lea e Sina ‘o le gogo sina, ‘ua tipatipa mai tai. Ona fa‘apea lea ‘o Sina;
“Oi la‘u tane! ‘o le gogo sina.
‘Ou te manamea i ana tipa.”
Ona fai atu lea ‘o le nu‘u, “Sema e, o mai ia, ina tatou sailia le tane a Sina.” Ona latou fai atu
ai lea ia Sina, “Sina e, sau ia; ina e nofo i‘inei; ‘a e matou o e saili i lau tane, o le gogo sina, e
ta manamea i ana tipa. Sina e, aua te tauvala‘au.” Ona latou o ai lea.
Ona tauvala‘au lea ‘o Sina, “Tui e, ma Tui ma Tui!” Ona sau ai lea ‘o Tuiletafu‘e, ‘o le
sauali‘i; ona fefe ai lea ‘o Sina. Ua sau le aitu: ona moe lea i vae o Sina.
Ona o mai lea le au uso tuagane o Sina, ma lana tane, ‘o le gogo sina; ona tepa atu lea ‘ua i ai
le aitu ia Sina, ona tagi lea.
‘O Fagono a tagi; ‘a ‘o tagi le tamaloa:—
“Soufuna Sina, soufuna Sina,
Le tama fafine, le feagaiga,
Lota tuafatine, na ‘e tagi i lau tane, ‘o le gogo sina.
E te manamea i ana tipa.
Ifo vanu, a‘e vanu, au manu na.
‘A e ta alu ita, ne‘i ta pau; ta lilia e.”
‘A ‘o tagi Sina;
“Sole Tui, sau i fale;
Tui e, sau i fale, i ta gagase.
Na‘u valaau, ‘o Tui ma Tui!
Oe mai ai le tasi Tui, ‘o Tuiletafu‘e; le moe nei,
Le tofa i o‘u vae nei
Tui e, sau i fale nei.”
Ona tagi lea ‘o le aupito ane i ai. E fa‘apea ‘uma lava a latou tagi.
Ona tagi lea ‘o Sina;
“Sole Tui e, sau i fale;
Sau i fale, i ta gagase.
Na‘u valaau, o Tui ma Tui!
Oe mai ai le tasi Tui, Tuiletafu‘e; le moe nei.
Tui e, sau i fale nei.”
1
A phrase meaning beautiful.

Tagi le ui‘i;
“Soufuna Sina, le tamafafine,
Lota tuafafine, le feagaiga,
Na ‘e tagi i lau tane, ‘o le gogo sina;
E te manamea i ana tipa.
Ifo vanu, a‘e vanu, au manu na.
‘A e alu ita nei; ta pau; ta lilia e.”
Ona alu ai lea ‘o le ui‘i, na tago i le lauulu o le aitu; ‘ua ave le tasi fuafuati lauulu; ‘ua ave,
nonoa i la‘au. Toe alu ma le tasi fuafuati lauulu; ave, nonoa i le niu; ‘ua faapea solo i la‘au
‘uma. Ona tago atu lea e le tuagane o Sina, ‘ua tago i le lima o Sina; ona la sosolo lea. Ona
oso atu lea le aitu; oso i sasa‘e, ‘ua pa‘u‘u ‘uma mai la‘au i sisifo. ‘Ua toe oso sisifo, ona
pa‘u‘u ‘uma mai lea ‘o la‘au i sasa‘e; ona taomia lea le aitu, oti ai.
2d. The Vi‘i, the most common of all, is used in praise of chiefs. The first half of each
verse is sung by some three or four, and then the latter half is taken up in full chorus. It is
accompanied with beating on a mat rolled up, and dancing.

‘O le Vi‘i o Letiutauga
Fa‘atali atu e; ‘a ‘o tiu i le manu.
Fa‘atali atu e, Tagipo; ‘a ‘o tiu i le manu.
‘Ua ligoligo le ulufanua; ‘a ‘ua tau matagi.
A sa matou taumatea, pe ni sasa o papalagi?
Oi, lau tama e! sa f aolioli nei lava i le nu‘u o manu o le tau.
Oi, le ula! e moni o le fuai mamao se ali‘i uei, ‘ua gutu i aitu fa‘alevao.
Letiutauga, ina folau; po ‘o lelei lava le tagata o le atu to‘elau.
‘A e le ‘ole lea; ina gase moe, ‘o le faiva o tama tane ‘o tau.
3d. The Lagisolo, or funeral dirge, is in form much like the preceding. It is sung slowly,
without dancing, in honour of a deceased chief. One of considerable length, in honour of Tato,
of Safune, commences—
‘O le li‘a mai; aue, li‘a mai, &c.1
4th. The Vila, the above, accompanied by clapping of hands, but no dancing. It has also a
commencement of its own; thus, and a chorus—
‘Ua ta‘afili i mauga lega, ‘ua lupe.
Lupe, lupe ulu iva.
‘O le li‘a mai, aue li‘a mai!
Lupe, lupe ulu iva, &c.
5th. The Talalo is sung slowly, with motion of the hands, and beating the mat. The
following is a
1
See p. 45

Talalo i Matautu
‘Ua tutunoa, tutunoa,
Au le foa, au le foa,
Tutunoa lenei aso vale.
E le iloa se ata sopovale lo‘ia e.
Nu‘u a ‘uma si ata sa tane i le utu tau,
Se va‘a Tufulele, ma nai lagaali o Masefau.
‘Ua fa‘ae‘e ma mu ‘atoa le tuavao.
Afu maile fai matatao, Mataia e.
Toli mai sea ‘ula e, tau mamao, a galo e.
6th. The Fiti is quite new to Samoans, having been introduced from Fiji. It is
accompanied with beating the mat, and motion of the hands.1
7th. The Fatu is sung in honour of a deceased chief, not danced to, nor even used at a
dance; more properly in this respect a funeral dirge than the Lagisolo.
Imoaaimanu e i logologo ‘ua‘u sau.
Na‘u su‘ilia mai se pupu e logona i vao.
Soufuna faufau, &c.2
8th. The Solo in praise of chief's lands and laumua; sung by one.
Na‘u tipa ifo, tipa ifo i niu-lega.3
Fa‘ataulia i tafetafe lou fia inu le‘a.4
Fai atu i fale na, le galu teine ma le galu taulele‘a.
Se‘i latou maia ai se ‘ava ‘o i fale na;
Se‘i taumafa ane ali‘i, a lailoa i le tuneva.
A tufa lava, ia o‘u mua, ‘o a‘u ‘o Letu‘uga.
‘Ou te fa‘anau ala i Piu;
Seu ai lota va‘a i fanua;
‘Ou futia se i‘a se lautua;
Fa‘ataatia i le taumua.
9th. The Muli‘au (including the Mualeva) is like the Vi‘i, struck up by two or more, and
answered in full chorus, accompanied by the beating of an instrument called the fa‘aali‘i5
O le Mualeva
Aue mauga! mauga o Savai‘l,
E tu‘u feta‘i.
E tiga mauga, mauga o Savai‘i,
E tu‘u feta‘i.
E fetaitai ma fale,
Ma mauga loa ma Vaete,
Ma utu a lau fau.
Aue mauga, &c.
1
See p. 46.
2
See p. 47.
3
A bathing-place at Safa‘i.
4
A harbour.
5
See p. 48.
– 45 –
Se pule a le a,
Ma maluatea,
Ma mulimauga o Olomea,
Ma le vao na o masa tuai.
Lopa mai i le Nuanua,
Ma le Afi‘a i mulimauga.
Aue mauga, &c.

‘O le lagisolo ia Tato
‘O le li‘a mai, ‘aue li‘a mai;
Tolila‘au e Tolila.1
‘A ‘o ai le tala i fafo?
‘Ua le migao, ‘ua tala po;
Se‘ia ao e fa‘ataio,
E alaga, ‘ua l[gap — reason: unclear]fo le malo;
‘Ua solofa le lagi, ‘ua fao.
‘A matou fa amavae ai,
Saivaiaso,1 ma Tu‘uiletai,1
Lu‘ulaufasa1 ma Tagatanu‘u.1
‘O i maua na ‘ua o mai,
Na ma ‘Olo‘apu2 mai Vaiafai;3
Na ma sailia Faufiliifetai,4
Ai se mea o saosaofa‘i ai.
‘O Sinasegi1 ma Sinava‘ava‘ai,1
Ai se aloia lua ta‘ua mai,
Sau i lona lumafale mavae.
Na ma ‘Olo‘apu mai Fale‘afa;
‘O le a maliu ifo sa Tuala.
‘A o‘o ito le fulugava‘a.
Talofa i nai tulafale,
‘A tau ina tatou fetaia‘i,
Ai lau teva nei, e le a‘e.
‘I a futu, ‘ua so‘o le atu sasa‘e,
‘O sa‘ili i le tafatafa ‘i lagi.
Se a ‘ea lenci? ‘ua ta te‘i,
Segia mai mauli, ‘ua ta fefe !
Ta ‘ino‘ino i malaga au‘e‘e;
Sa fai atu lava ‘o le va‘a tele,
Fai la, a tatou gae‘e;
Ia te lavatia tai tetele.
Ia te tino e faasau e Meto;6
E te alo e mau lava i le solo.
Se fa‘amomo i loto, se tu‘u faleupolu.
Fa‘afono atu lo tatou na motu,
Si‘osi‘omia le va‘a la ono.
Filoilupo7 ma Lemaluosamoa,1
Avatu i laua e fai ma fa aoso.
I maliu atu, ‘a ‘ua ma i le motu,
1
A woman's name.
2
The name of the ambassador of Safune.
3
The Iva drinking-water.
4
Chief's brother.
6
A reference to a fagono.
7
A woman's name.

Na ma sa‘ilia Naumatiutuloa,1
Pe maua i le vavaloloa?
Se gutupoto ia te talasaloa,
O ali‘i ‘ua i‘ina ‘atoa.
Sema e, ‘o ai ‘ea e pisa?
Pe se son le va i le faga?
Pe ni fa‘aali‘i ‘ua tata?
Ofo mai se tautai pagota.
Na ‘o Leasiono,2 ma Uta,
Lesiene,3 ma Palepalegaoa,3
Si‘i ifo le va‘a e nofoafa,
‘A e to‘alima i Agalela.4
E ifo a‘u ma tagi, ‘a ‘ua lupea sina tu‘itu‘i.
Le Atua e, to mai sau pule,
Fo‘isa‘iina mai Fuatafuti;5
S[gap — reason: unclear]‘ia to ane se matai tuli.
Fo‘isa‘iina mai i Fuailalama5
Ia Safune, ‘o taua o le pala;
Ni nai nu‘u na mai La‘afaga;6
Na ‘o Su‘esu‘e7 lea ma Taga.7
Avatu i laua e fai ma papa
Ia Vae‘au,7 e fai mou va‘a;
Tofoilevao7 e fai ma malama.
Alu atu Manu e ta‘ai tapa‘a;
Lo outou ili, ‘o le sau o Lava‘a;
‘A e matafi ane ao valevale,
Ai le fualupe e tau tasi.
Talofa i le fu‘a, nei tauvale,
Ne‘i le ‘auga le fao-‘ato8
Ape ane, ‘a ni mea fa‘amalama
Avatu le tuaefu9 e togisala
‘A e tautua na Lefuaiva‘a.10

‘O le fiti ia Matautu
1.
Lemaile11 ma Lesuni‘ula e,11
A avatu ‘upu, tetee mai.12
Ne‘i tu‘u i le ‘upu fa‘aoso13
A ‘au na i tafeaga,14
Le fia eva gatasi lava15
Sea‘ula e, a toli e16
Susu‘i ma fa‘atali i nai Lomea e17
1
Tato.
2
Women.
3
Women's names.
3
Women's names.
4
Name of Moana a tulafale.
5
Names of Tato.
5
Names of Tato.
6
Name of a place.
7
People's names.
8
In the war the children of Safune were carried to the fort in baskets.
9
The young meu of the place compared to pigeons.
10
Tato's name.
11
Names of Manono. The people of that island were angry with Matautu.
12
Don't receive the tales which you hear.
13
Do not believe the aggravating words.
14
Of the troops of the conquered party.
15
Who wish to be on an equal footing.
16
When you pluck the fruit of the séa.
17
Make them into a necklace, and wait for Lomea.*
*
An emblematic name of Matautu.
– 47 –
2.
Fai pea si a latou mane,
A lena vao tagata vale
I le lupe1 nei ‘ua tufale.
Olotu i Taoa valevale.
A ‘ou pefeaina ca?
Tau ina ia e fa‘a pea,
E ‘auga i ai Lelomea.
Sea ‘ula, &c.
3.
Tu mai, ina a tatou o,
Ma Letaituli2 e pula po.
Se‘i a‘o ni aga ia fofo,
Ma lota mata‘u i le malo,
Ne‘i fa‘avovo t[gap — reason: unclear]o.
Sea‘ula e, &c.
4.
Lemaile, Lemaile, fa‘amolemole;
Ne‘i mao i le3 ivi o le i‘a.
Fo‘i mai e s[gap — reason: unclear]u i Masina.4.
Se‘i tali le Va‘afaifaiva,5
‘O lo‘o ‘ua tali tula‘i na;
Mona[gap — reason: unclear]asa o uila.
‘O taeao e tau paipa.
Sea‘ula e, &c.
O le fatu ia Suluga
Imoaaimanu6 e, i logologo ‘ua a‘u sau.
Na a‘u sailia mai Sepupuelogonaivao.7
Soufuna Faufauiatane8 ma Le‘aunofoitalau,9
Na a‘u sailia mai Sepupuelogonaivao.
Aue Fa‘atiu e, ‘ua vagana, ‘ua a‘u le iloa.
Na a‘u sailia mai Sepupuelogonaivao.
‘Ua muamua mai tala leaga, ‘ua a‘u fa‘atuama‘oa;
Ni tala mai o le so‘o o Tigilau;10
‘Ua ‘atoa lava lou aso tau.
A palui liutua ta‘i‘au;
Fa‘amau fao tulimuli‘au.
1
A reference to Suisala, a chief of Matautu.
2
The name of a young chief.
3
A reference to a chief called Faapoaifoto.
4
The name of a mountain.
5
A reference to the chief Va‘afagota.
6
The name of a traditionary stone at Falelatai here put to signify the people of the place.
7
One of Suluga's names.
8
A woman who was changed to a stone.
9
The name of a dead chief.
10
Suluga compared to Tigilau.
– 48 –
A‘e liuliu a le togapulau;
Si ‘ou lalelei ‘ua naunau.
‘A ‘o a‘u lena sina fafine mai Savavau;1
Tiliaui2 lea, e fai ma nofoatau,
I se e mapu i ai Lenaunau.3
‘Ou te talita i ou tafatafa,
Ma ‘ou sui lou masei‘au.
‘Oifea ‘ea tupua o le fanua?
Soufuna e, Uluselevalevale,4
Le paepae lei i soloi ane,
Le fanua lea e tu‘ulafoa‘i.
O mai ia, ina lua o ia Puana5 ma Tala‘i.5
Se‘i lua silitonua mai ai
Faunana6 ma Alomaugana‘i.7
‘Ua ma o mai, e le i ai;
Saili atu i le alasea‘e.
Nainai soania le fetuao,
‘O Tapuitea8 lo‘o ‘ua sopolagi.
Aue Li‘agogo9 i le talafatai, ‘ofea Letaiaua?10
Sulugaiu‘amea lauama,10
Na matatau ma Lefagugata.11
‘a latou to‘ese‘ese ma Lelamatantasiilepa12
Ia Si‘ilautoieli‘aga-‘aeufi‘atoaletuapapa.13
Toimoanaletuliotoga.13
Le usoilei ‘ua tagi mai ala
Fagumau ia o Leutuu‘amea,14
Ma Samoa ‘ua fa‘atautala.

‘O le Muli‘au ia Tu‘u
1.
E, Tu‘u e ‘ua igo i lana sala e;
E, ‘aua le f[gap — reason: unclear]tulia, faitalia lona loto e.
Aue sole Tu‘u, ‘o fea lou fanua?
Aue Tutuila e, o lota nu‘u e mamao.
Fagali‘i ma Selea le fanua,
Olao, ma Tula, ma Onenoa,
‘O fanua o Tu‘u e ‘atoa.
To lau sala, ‘a ‘ua iloa.
Tu‘u e, ‘ua igo i lana sala;
E, ‘aua le fetulia, faitalia lona loto e.
2.
Aue sole Tu‘u e, ‘oifea ou fanua?
Fagalele, ma le tolo i Puava,
1
The name of land belonging to Tigilau.
2
A woman's name.
3
One of Suluga's names.
4
A woman changed into one of these tupua.
5
Names of two tupua at Amoa.
6
A chief of Satapuala.
7
An Amoa chief.
8
The name of a star.
9
A chief of Falelatai.
10
Names of Suluga.
11
Va‘afusu, chief of Falelatai.
12
Tui‘a‘ana.
13
Suluga.
14
Three handsome brothers.
– 49 –
Initu, ma Inifa‘atafa,
‘O fanua o Tu‘uleama‘aga;
Nofo ai, aua ‘ua sala.
Tu‘u e, ‘ua igo i lana sala, etc.
3.
Aue sole Tu‘u, ‘ofea ou fanua?
Se Olomio mai le Lupeuluiva,1
‘O i Va‘agauta,2 ‘o i Va‘agatai.2
‘O Letui3 le nu‘u o sauali‘i;
‘A ‘o Nu‘u3 le malae o ali‘i.
‘O i Vaifoa4 i malae Filogia.5
E vavae le toga le Pu‘a‘ivine;6
‘A galu, fatia Si‘unau.7
Tu‘u e, ‘ua igo, etc.
4.
Aue Galegalea‘e8 i Olofetu‘u.8
I Lealailenau8 ma Tafa‘itoa.8
Mamafiologologo,9 ma Ausoloiago,9
Ma Itita‘oto,9 ma Tagi,9 ma Aloalo;9
E sa‘afi Tu‘u i ona fanua.
Lau sala e fa‘apua fua.
E alaala ai Moaaletiale10 se manaia.
Ni ‘ava lelei ia atia mai;
Lafo i fafo, ia laina;
Au mai i fale, i maia;
Utufia ni taufa e sui a‘i;
La inu, ma nofonofo vale.
Le sala a Tu‘u ‘ua le a‘e.
Tu‘u e, ‘ua igo, etc.
5.
‘O le Pitofau11 o Tu‘u sa lavalava mai,
Ma Leuooutumoso12 na la momoe ai;
Fai ai ana mavaega.
‘A se tamafafine, pule Fale‘afa;
‘A se ali‘i avane lona suafa.
‘A e liliu e ia ia Li‘ava‘a.13
Aua sa fa‘amanamana.
Tu‘u e, ‘ua igo i lana sala.
E, ‘aua le fetulia, faitalia lona loto e.
1
A traditionary stone at Aopo.
2
The same.
3
A place in Sasina.
4
The drinking-water of Sasina.
5
The malae.
6
A place which divides the south wind.
7
A reef.
8
Pieces of land.
9
Laud of Tu‘u.
10
A name of Tu‘u.
11
The name of a fine mat.
12
The name of a place.
13
The husband's name from whom he had taken the wife. The child was to
be attributed to him.

SAMOAN PROVERBS
 Ia lafoia i le fogava‘a tele; lit., Let it be thrown on the deck of the large canoe. A
depreciatory saying of a speaker.
‘O le fogava‘a e tasi, One family.
Ua iloa i va‘a lelea, Of one seldom seen.
Ua le se‘i mau se ala va‘a, Why not steer a straight course? Applied to a speech having
no definite proposition.
Ua mele le manu e Afono, Afono made light of his prosperity.
E pogai i vau, a e lia‘i i ala, It grew in the bush, but it is cast away in the road.
‘O lalo ifi lenei, This is a secret; lit., This is under the chestnut tree.
‘O le puta i Tufa, Only a threat.
Tu‘u ia ma paga, In the game of tatia when counted wrongly; applied to anything not
paid for.
Ua se va‘a tu matagi, Of anything quick, like a canoe before the wind.
Ua usiusi-fa‘ava‘asavili, To obey like a canoe before the wind.
Ua le se‘i seu fa‘a‘alo, To request to be respectful; lit., Why do you not steer out of the
way?
Ia tala mea fa‘asolo, (of seuga-lupe), To dismiss an assembly.
Fale-taeao e le afiafi, Who sits at home in the morning will not eat in the evening. Of a
lazy person.
Taliu a e popo‘e, Of one who is afraid out at sea. He bails out the canoe, but is afraid.
Ua le faasinopu le tautu‘u palapala. A reference to the work of digging tupa. Applied to
lazy people who do not help at work.
E le fono pa‘a mona vae. The crab did not consult with its legs that they should pinch;
they did it of themselves. Applied to youths who get into trouble without consulting the
seniors.
‘O le lima e paia le mata; lit., The hand strikes the eye. Of one who brings trouble on
himself.
‘O le to‘oto‘o sinasina, A white staff; i.e. a new speaker.
‘O le to‘oto‘o uliuli, A black staff; i.e., an old speaker.
E logo le tuli ona tata, The deaf hears when he is tapped.
E pata le tutu i ona vae, The crab blusters on his feet; a boy blusters when he knows his
father is near.
Na ‘o gata e fasi a va‘ai, The snake when about to be killed looks but does not escape.
Said of one blamed before his face.
E solo le fai, a e tu‘u le foto, The skate swims away, but leaves its barb.
E le pu se tino i upu, Words don't break bones.
E pala le ma‘a, a e le pala upu, Stones rot but not words.
Amuia le masina, e alu ma sau; lit., Blessed is the moon which goes and returns! Men
die and return not.
‘O le ua na fua mai Manu‘a, The rain came from Manu‘a. Spoken of a thing long known
beforehand, and yet unprepared for.
Uu tu‘u ma‘a, a e ma‘a i a‘au, The crabs left the stone, and took a piece of the reef.
Ua solo le lava-lima. To be prosperous.

‘O le ‘umu ua vela, Of one who does many things for his country.
‘O le sola a Faleata, Does not run far, but returns.
‘O le a sosopo le manu vale i le foga-tia, The foolish bird passes over the ti‘a. Applied
by one of himself when speaking before great chiefs.
‘O le fogati‘a ua malu maunu, Of one who calls in to get food.
Punapuna a manu fou. To begin heartily and finish weakly.
 Ua se vi a toli, Applied to a number falling in a clubbing match.
E i o le ua tafuna‘i, The rain carried by the wind to leeward. Applied to toilalo party.
Ia fili e le tai se agava‘a, Let the wind choose as to the quickness of a canoe.
Se a lou manoginogi, Spoken to a man of bad conduct. His conduct is no more fragrant.
E lutia i Puava, a e mapu i Fagalele, Hard-pressed paddling in Puava, but at rest in
Fagalele.
Ua tagi le fatu ma le eleele, The stones and the earth weep. Applied to the death of a
beloved chief.
Ua lelea le laumea, The dry leaves are carried away by the wind. Of troops routed.
Sei logo ia Moo, Make it known to Moo.
Ua o Tapatapao le fealua‘i, A myth of a mountain that went backwards and forwards
between Upolu and Savai‘i.
Ia tupu i se fusi, May you grow in a swamp, i.e.. quickly. A prayer of a father for his son.
‘O le ola e taupule-esea, Our lives are decreed to be taken by the gods.
E ese ea le aitu, ese le moemu? Is the aitu different from the moemu? Doing something
wrong under another name.
Tapai tataga le pilia, “Little pitchers have ears;” lit., Don't let lizards go near when
getting afato, because they will eat them. Applied to children present at conversation of grown
people.
E tuai tuai, ta te ma‘ona ai, It is very long coming, but will be satisfying. Of an oven of
food long in preparation, but satisfying. Applied generally to expected but delayed good.
‘O le mama ma le ponoi, A mouthful and a blow; or of a canoe both leaky and with the
waves coming in. Applied to one over-burdened with different tasks.
Ua mua ane lava se fale, First of all a house. Applied to one having neither strength nor
means, but who talks of building a house.
Ua o Lea‘ea, He is like Lea‘ea. Lea‘ea shook the bonito off his hook back into the sea.
Applied to those rejecting good things when offered.
Ia e vae a Vaeau, Let your feet be those of Vaeau (who went to heaven and back in a
day); i.e., Be quick.
Ua o le malaga i Oloolo, It is like the journey of Oloolo. Applied to a thing proposed to
be done, but yet left undone. (A Samoan myth.)
Ua se ana, Of something promised, but not given.
A fai ea a‘u mou titi seesee, Am I to be your old ti-leaf girdle? Said to one constantly
begging.
Ua ola ipiniu, They used cups for fish-baskets; because there were so few fish caught.

E toa e le loto, a e pa le noo, Strong in heart, but broken in the back. Of a man whose
will is stronger than his body.
Lua mata to ese, Two taro planted away; i.e., Better have a small plantation of your own
than be joined with another.
E le papeva se upu, Not a word stumbles.
Aniui, Anini, Aveavai, The town Anini was burning, and Aveavai said it served them
right, for they were thieves; but the fire spread to Aveavai, and they, too, were burned out.
Ua aofia i le futiafu e tasi, When the river dries up, water is found only in the bason of
the waterfall. Applied to all being of one mind in a council.
Se‘i lua‘i lou le ‘ulu taumamao, Pick the breadfruits on the far-off branches first. Applied
to any work, etc., to be done. Do the most difficult first.
Tau ina ta ma fa‘apoi, Only threaten and not execute.
Ia lafoia i le alo galo, May you be thrown on the bosom of the wave; the front part of the
wave where it is easy to swim.
Ia natia i Fatualavai, May our fault be hidden in Fatualavai. May we be forgiven.
Ua se tifitifi. Of a nimble warrior.
Ua se moo le sosolo, He is a lizard crawling. Of a disobedient lad.
Ua se ta‘ata‘a a le ala, Like grass by the roadside. Of one who has no fixed abode.