The
language had recently to borrow from the Tahitians a word for debt; while
by a significant excidence, it possessed a native expression for the
failure to pay--"to omit to make a return for property begged." Conceive
now the position of the householder besieged by harpies, and all defence
denied him by the laws of honour. The sacramental gesture of refusal,
his last and single resource, was supposed to signify "my house is
destitute." Until that point was reached, in other words, the conduct
prescribed for a Samoan was to give and to continue giving. But it does
not appear he was at all expected to give with a good grace. The
dictionary is well stocked with expressions standing ready, like
missiles, to be discharged upon the locusts--"troop of shamefaced ones,"
"you draw in your head like a tern," "you make your voice small like a
whistle-pipe," "you beg like one delirious"; and the verb _pongitai_, "to
look cross," is equipped with the pregnant rider, "as at the sight of
beggars."
This insolence of beggars and the weakness of proprietors can only be
illustrated by examples. We have a girl in our service to whom we had
given some finery, that she might wait at table, and (at her own request)
some warm clothing against the cold mornings of the bush.
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