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PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION

The former editions of this work having passed out of print, in compliance with the urgent suggestions of several friends and a strong impression on my own mind of the necessity for preserving the usefulness of the work, I have now prepared a revised and enlarged edition, and have also introduced into it valuable additions which will be found of great advantage to the student of the Samoan language.

From a volume of MS. songs, written out by a native poet, and lent me by the Rev. G. Brown, I culled 500 new words. On a visit to Samoa in 1885, I ascertained the correct meaning of these words from various pundits, and also collected many other words at the same time. Since then I have added to the new collection while translating a volume of myths and legends, &c., compiled by the late Rev. T. Powell. From Marsden's Malay Dictionary I obtained 180 Eastern Polynesian roots, which I have inserted in their places. There are also many resemblances found in the Malay Grammar to the Samoan. (See note appended.)

In this edition I have enlarged the Grammar, and

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have added 560 words to the English and Samoan part of the Dictionary.^* About 1300 new words or new meanings have been added, making a total of over 12,000 words.

Lastly, I have given a number of Proverbs in use among the natives.