Inheritance

by Jenny Pattrick

  fiafia party

  Fono Parliament

  fale open-sided thatched house

  falelaeti‘iti‘i small hut on poles over the lagoon, used as a toilet

  kilikiti Samoan cricket, played with a three-sided bat and any number of players

  lavalava cloth tied around the waist, covering the legs – man or woman

  lei a garland of flowers, shells, seeds – or even sweets

  loa a tree whose seeds are used for dye

  lo taua mea lilo our secret place

  masi a food made from fermented green bananas

  Masiofo honorific given to a woman of highest rank

  matai titled leader

  moso‘oia type of tree

  mumu loose-fitting tent-dress for women

  nu‘u village

  paopao dug-out canoe with small outrigger

  palagi white person

  palolo the sexual part of a reef worm – a delicacy

  palusami delicacy made with young taro leaves and coconut cream

  patele priest

  pisupo tinned corned beef

  pule dignity, power (of a leader)

  puletasi tight-fitting two-piece dress for women

  sa‘ofa‘i ceremony of handing over title

  sau! come!

  soifua! May you live!

  sene cent

  siva a dance performed by women

  Susuga a polite way of addressing a titled person

  taupou village virgin: a ceremonial position

  teine girl

  tala dollar

  talofa lava hello

  tama man

  Tama a ‘aiga most high-born families in Samoa

  tapalolo fishing for palolo

  taro a large root vegetable, always served on special occasions

  Copyright

  A BLACK SWAN BOOK published by Random House New Zealand, 18

  Poland Road, Glenfi eld, Auckland, New Zealand

  For more information about our titles go to www.randomhouse.co.nz

  A catalogue record for this book is available from the National Library of

  New Zealand

  Random House New Zealand is part of the Random House Group

  New York London Sydney Auckland Delhi Johannesburg

  First published 2010

  © 2010 Jenny Pattrick

  The moral rights of the author have been asserted

  ISBN 978 1 86979 307 4

  This book is copyright. Except for the purposes of fair reviewing no part of

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  from the publisher.

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