THE SAMOAN FINE MAT by M. B. Akuhata-Brown Mrs Akuhata-Brown and her husband recently returned to New Zealand after teaching for several years in Western Samoa. During the period when the Tongans ruled the people of Samoa, the Samoans adopted many of the Tongan arts and crafts, customs and traditions. After the Tongans had left the country many of their customs were still followed there. Among the most important of the crafts which the Tongans introduced was the making of the fine mat, a large, very finely woven object which is one of the most important possessions that a Samoan can own. Its origin is reflected in its name, ‘ie-toga; the first of these two words refers to a cloth, and the word toga, pronounced ‘tonga’, is the name of the island from which it originated.

A Sacred Task Today only those women with exceptional skill at weaving, and with a knowledge of the sacred customs associated with it, are chosen to weave the fine mat. They work either in a guest house, out of sight of the people, or else in a house used by the older women of the family. While the mat is being woven no-one is permitted to enter the fale (house; this word is the equivalent of our Maori whare). If anyone should break this age-old custom, they must pay a penalty; usually this consist of a large amount of food. The leaf used in the weaving is that of the pandanus (lau ‘ie—‘leaf for the fine mat’). This leaf is similar in shape to those of our New Zealand flax, but it is much longer, and is softer and finer in texture. The pandanus leaves are dipped into hot water, then spread out in the sun to dry. This bleaches them until they are white, and makes them more pliable. Then the leaves are stripped into strands as fine as three-ply baby wool. One can imagine the skill and patience required to weave strips of such fineness. It is said that the weavers of such mats sometimes become partially or totally blind as a result of their work. Fine mats are among the Samoans' most precious possessions. Our Maori mats (whariki) have two to four folds, but Samoan fine mats have no folds at all They vary in size from 40in. × 40in. to 150in. × 150in. The larger and finer the mat, the more important it becomes. When the mat is completed one edge is decorated with the red head-feathers of a local bird, the sega'ula.

Orators Must Know Historical Significance Then the mat is formally displayed in front of all the houses in the village, and also on the malae (this word is the equivalent of our Maori marae). It is then taken to the high chiefs and orators of the village, to be given a name. After innumerable discussions they agree upon a suitable historical name, and this is duly announced to all the matai (heads of families), who in turn pass the message on to other interested families or persons. Usually these historical names are only memorized, but sometimes they are also recorded in written form.