File:Samoa 'uma, where life is different (1902) (14596819167).jpg

Identifier: samoaumawherelif00chur (find matches)
Title: Samoa 'uma, where life is different
Year: 1902 (1900s)
Authors: Churchill, Llewella Pierce, Mrs. (from old catalog)
Subjects:
Publisher: New York, Forest and Stream publishing company
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress

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ganiza-tion of which he is the head. In case of his retire-ment by death or resignation a new commander-in-chief would be chosen to succeed him in this trust,and all the titles to property would pass to the newincumbent. Now the Samoan custom would be todecide upon some eligible person, a member of theBooth family by birth, or with equal validity by adop-tion, and to elect him, not commander-in-chief, butWilliam Booth, and as such seized of all property andrights belonging to the organization. The tulafalename, therefore, means all that the family has, and itspossession carries with it all the dignity and authorityof the family, the relation being that of father andchildren. The name is vested in the family, it is con-ferred upon a chosen member of the family only afterdeliberation and by the unanimous consent of all themembers, it may be resigned back to the family byits holder at will, and is vacated by anything whichremoves him from the scene of his duties for any in- 28 M*^ ■T^-
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A Samoan child in her finery of beads, a fine mat,and the hibiscus blossom tucked over one ear THE SAMOAN FAMILY. convenient period; it may be revoked by the familycouncil in case of wrong or unsatisfactory adminis-tration. In the last analysis the tulafale is seen to bea president elected for an uncertain term, and to holdhis authority by virtue of a democracy exercising thefullest right of suffrage. Such is the head of thefamily; after all, a very simple president directly re-sponsible to his constituents, and prevented from act-ing except by their unanimous consent. The family property vested in him falls naturallyunder the two great heads of real and personal. The real estate is owned by the family without anydivision of interests, and comprises certain pieces ofland in proximity to the town green where theirhouses are built, and larger blocks in the interior,where they may establish plantations of food stuffsand other products useful in their domestic economy.Other real property

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