{"product_id":"the-chiefs-fine-samoan-proverb-tatau-tee","title":"The Chief's Fine — Samoan Proverb Tee","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;p\u0026gt;\u0026lt;strong\u0026gt;O le mea a tamaali'i fa'asala, a o le mea a tufanua fa'alumaina.\u0026lt;\/strong\u0026gt;\u0026lt;\/p\u0026gt; \u0026lt;p\u0026gt;\u0026lt;em\u0026gt;\"The transgressions of the nobility should be punished; those of the common herd should be treated with contempt.\"\u0026lt;\/em\u0026gt;\u0026lt;\/p\u0026gt; \u0026lt;p\u0026gt;In traditional Samoa, penal power lay with the village council. Serious offenses by a chief (tamaali'i) were formally punished with a fa'asalaga — a fine of pigs, taro, or other food, shared and eaten by the whole village. Commoners (tufanua), by contrast, rarely had the means to pay such a fine, so their wrongs were instead met with public contempt and mockery. The proverb captures a core truth of Samoan customary justice: status carries a heavier price, and accountability was measured in what a person could give back to the community.\u0026lt;\/p\u0026gt;\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Alagaupu Apparel by R3i","offers":[{"title":"Black","offer_id":44483556212779,"sku":null,"price":23.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"White","offer_id":44483556245547,"sku":null,"price":23.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0700\/6319\/4155\/files\/hf_20260725_080248_7c8bddab-525a-457f-b0bc-89f824da5672.png?v=1784966670","url":"https:\/\/alagaupuapparel.com\/products\/the-chiefs-fine-samoan-proverb-tatau-tee","provider":"Alagaupu Apparel by R3i","version":"1.0","type":"link"}