Keep the Lizard Away — Samoan Proverb Tee

Tapai tataga le pilia.
"May there be no lizards about."

This alagaupu (Samoan proverb) comes from the old practice of gathering afato, an edible grub found in rotten tree trunks that lizards (pili) are just as fond of as people are. Before searching for the larvae, one had to make sure no lizards were lurking nearby to spoil the find. Samoans use this saying when discussing matters that call for secrecy: those not directly involved should be kept away, lest a careless presence endanger the success of the undertaking. It's a proverb about discretion, about knowing who belongs in the room when something important is being decided.