ABSTRACT
The Samoan people inhabit a group of islands in the southwest of Polynesia, and are divided into three groups, the large islands of Upolu and Savai’i, the island of Tutuila, and the three small islands of Tau, Ofu, and Olosenga which constitute the Manu’a group-population 2, 200. The Samoan life is based upon an economy of plenty. They depend primarily upon agriculture, taro, bananas, yams, sweet potatoes, breadfruit, supplemented by fish, shellfish, pigs, coconut crabs, coconuts, and greens. The Great Fono represented the upper limits of Samoan society, and provided the frame into which the permanent titles were fitted in carefully noted ranking order. Samoa relied to a very slight degree upon group rivalry as a cohesive force within the group. War in Samoa was part of the ceremonial rivalry between villages and was fought for no gains other than prestige, nor were there any important rewards for individual warriors.
