v —A. 48.

A. —4b.

Malagas for Presentation of " Fine Mats." First, as to malagas for the presentation of " fine mats." The word malaga literally signifies a journey. It is undoubtedly an ancient custom of the Samoans to make journeys for the presentation of " fine mats " on various ceremonial and other occasions. The giving of " fine mats," according to the usage, involved return gifts to the donors by the recipients. The mats were given to the chiefs and tulafales. One of the evils —perhaps the main evil—of the usage was that great numbers joined in the malaga —namely, chiefs, tulafales, and taulealea. The visitors rarely left their hosts' village until they had consumed the provisions they had brought with them and also the store of provisions of the hosts. This characteristic is humourously referred to in Stevenson's " Footnote to History." The plantations of both the visitors and hosts were neglected during the feasting which accompanied these ceremonies. In their turn the hosts subsequently descended on their former visitors and the cycle of feasting was repeated. There can be no doubt that malagas conducted without supervision or regulation resulted in great poverty in districts in Samoa. The position was also complicated by " fine mats " being used as a medium of exchange for the building or purchase of houses and boats and the payment of debts. The predilection of the Samoans for this custom has always given rise to concern in the minds of those charged with the administration of Samoa. Consideration was given to the regulation of the custom by the German Government of Samoa, as is shown by a paper written somewhere between 1905 and 1909 and referred to in the evidence of Mr. Lewis. Mr. Lewis traces the system of control which was adopted. It involved apparently the appointment of a committee to work under the Faipule for the purpose of costing and distribution of " fine mats " at any ceremony, and an attempt was made to standardize the value of the various makes of mat. For a time in some districts this system of control worked satisfactorily, but subsequently it was ascertained that the committee control was not working satisfactorily, and it was not further used. Apparently provision was made in the year 1918 that mats were to be marked and costed, and these distinctive marks would be permanent, doing away with the need of a committee, which apparently had varied the cost according to their own views, which were not always accepted. We pass by the system of control shown in Mr. Lewis's evidence and adopted by the Fono of Faipules in October, 1918. As to the subsequent regulation of these ceremonies, Mr. Lewis's evidence is as follows: — 1923. This custom was a matter for discussion at the Faipule Fono in June, 1923, and the following resolution passed, as appeared in the Savali of 10th July, 1923 : — " Fine Mais. " (1) Fine-mat malaga will be withheld for three years. " (2) Any person who has a debt of fine mats will pay such debt, but a malaga for such purpose is prohibited. This only holds good until December, 1923. " (3) Malagas for the purpose of presenting fine mats or goods in exchange therefor are prohibited. " (4) This order to take effect from Ist July, 1923." 1924. This subject was further discussed at the Faipule Fono in January, 1924, and the following resolution passed, and published in the Savali, 22nd February, 1924 : — " A committee to be appointed to inquire into breaches of the regulation as to fine mats. Four Faipule from Savai'i and four Faipule from Upolu. The regulation to be still in force, but it is allowed for any one to use fine mats for the (payment of) building of his house, or for anything that he wishes to purchase with a fine mat, such as boats and the like, but a fine-mat malaga for such purpose is forbidden." 1926. After discussing all remits from District Councils on the subject the following decision was registered by the Fono, 1926, as published in the Savali, July, 1926 : — " It is the resolution of His Excellency the Administrator and the Fono of Faipules that the regulation concerning fine mats shall be continued as commenced in 1923 until the full term of experiment has expired. No change has been made in that regulation. Malagas for the exchange of fine mats and property, and also death feasts, are prohibited. But it is permitted to use fine mats for the following objects : — " (i) The building of houses ; " (ii) The building of boats or purchase of boats ; " (iii) Presentation to parents in a weak state or about to die; " (iv) Disinterment and reburial (not more than two mats); " (v) Gift to a widow just after her husband's death (not more than two mats) ; " (vi) For buying and selling ; " (vii) For the payment of work done."

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