Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-02-18
A DISGUSTING BEVERAGE
Making Cava in the Islands
or the Pacific.
A Liquor Produced from Plant BY
Means Of Human MasticatiOn

Sof o. Al = tuduucL % OONCA 40 ~ - $40
gushing. The cava or ava plant is a
species of pepper, and grows about
i've feet high. having large heart
shaped leaves with pointed stalks. The
root is dug up. cleaned with mussel
shells, and split into small pieces. This
is then distributed among the people.
seated in two circles. to be cleaned. A
deadly silence prevails for some time.
then it is broken by the cry of "My
ma caval" (Give me cava , by each
of those who intend TO chew IL.
Young persons with sound teeth,
good, clean mouths are, of course, the
chewers. Women do great deal of
the chewing. and young women spit
on it TO thin the paste. 1t takes about
two minutes to chew each mouthful,
and when thus masticated it is placed
on plantain or banana leaf, and
handed to persons who collect it in
wooden bowl about three feet in diam
eter. and foot deep In the bowl 1t
is arranged in separate portions, so
that the chief to whom it is shown
can tell whether there is enough or
not. Two men mix the material in
the bowl sitting opposite each other,
one forcing off the flies with large
leaf, the other pouring in water from
cocoanut shells. Having washed his
hands, one of the men mingles the
chewed matter. and when all the ir-
gradients are equally and firmly mixed,
quantity of fbrous substance is
thrown over the surface of the infu-
sion, when begins the artistic portion
of the work. BY various curious and
singular evolutions of the hands and
arms, he works the fibrous substance
around the pulp till it is eneircled as
if in net. Then the mass is taken
out of the fluid, raised breast high,
twisted more firmly by surprising and
graceful motions of the arms, the
muscles swelling and playing in an
extraordinary manner. Great strength
Is exerted on these occasions, and the
dexterity with which the whole is ac-
complished always excites the admira-
ton of the lockers on. Every
tongue says a traveller. els mute,
and every eye is upon him watching
each motion of his arms as they des-
cribe the various curvillinear turns
essential to describe the success of the
operation" Three times the fibrous
substance is thrown on the surface Of
the fluid, and the same operation re-
peated to gather all the dregs from the
liquor, and the roll is twisted and
suspended over the bowl till not a
drop will exude from the substance.
Cups are made Of banana leaves. The
cava being strained and clear. ball of
the fibrous matter. which acts like a
sponge. is dipped into the fluid and
squeezed into the cups. which are
alternately held over the centre of the
bowl, giving TO each about one-third
Of pint The cups are then distribu-
ted according 70 the rank of the
individual, whose name being callel
out, he ciaps his hands 70 show in
what part Of the circle he is seated
If he is chief the cupAbearer hands
the cup kneeling. The drink does not
affect the natives much, but upon a
stranger produces intoxicaticn or stu
pe6ction, which destroys appetite, and
renders the person averse to any kind
Of noise Captain King saw a man
once who was delirious from its use
and two natives were holding him.
plucking his hair out by the roots as q
sovereign remedy. It is great flesh
reducer, and persons who were once
cOrpulent. by its frequent use become
emaciated and living skeletons When
person first begins to drink cava. he
breaks out in scales about the head.
while his eyes become sore and red.
The scales gradually drop off, leaving
the skin beautifully clear. and very
smooth. &C Cincinnati Enquirer.
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