ABSTRACT
The chiefly line at Sa’a, which is represented to-day by Ramodola, Doraweewee, and Roro’i, is descended from a chief named Pwaulo Paine, who came from the hills at Pwaloto twelve generations ago. The main branch is now extinct, and the chiefs who remain belong to cadet branches. Ramodola was bought as a son by Haluwate, who himself was also bought, and the father of Roro’i was bought, and Doraweewee was bought by Doraadi who himself was a foster child. Buying is the equivalent of adoption, and adopted children are reckoned as full sons. The main branch became extinct through the death of Haluta ala in 1912, during an epidemic of dysentery. The names of the chiefs are remembered owing to the invocation of their names in sacrifice, and owing also to the practice of reciting genealogies. A Sa’a man was very scornful about a Roasi man who did not even know the name of his grandfather.
