CHAPTER IV
The Samoan islands are divided into districts, whichare subdivided into settlements, and these again intovillages. The great divisions or districts are quiteindependent of each other, their boundaries being wellknown, and the care of them committed to the twonearest villages on either side, the inhabitants of whichwere called Leoleo-tuaoi , or boundary-keepers. Formerlya feeling of irritation constantly existed between suchvillages, and, as in other lands, border feuds werefrequent.
The boundaries of the different settlements werewell defined, and each place zealously defended itsrights. The lands of each settlement were again sub-divided and owned by individual proprietors ; but if theownership of these various claimants by any meansbecame obscure and difficult to substantiate, theboundaries of the villages were well known andrespected; thus to the very mountain-tops the landhad its owners. In the event of the inhabitants of onevillage trespassing upon the lands of another villageto cut down any of the few kinds of timber considered