Daily Yellowstone journal., 1888-12-01
AMONG THE PolYNeSIANs.
Their Habits and Customs brewing the
NationaI riuk-The Pal Maker.

s..s ssosh. 49, -
National Drink-The Pal Maker.
While conversing with Surgeon II. w.
Whitaker he said he joined his ship, the
Mohican, at San Francisco, Cal, in May,
1885, and sailed in her through the Col
den Gate the following month for an ex-
tensivo cruise in the South Pacific, which
lasted over three years. His supply Of
information shows that he has been a
close observer of the customs and habits
of the Polynesians. As Il surgeon, ne
was brought more intimately in contact
with them than others, and had the OPP
p~ortunity Of becoming personally ac-
auaiuted with many Of their strange
! doings. and he says some Of his best
friends have been formed among those
pcople. One of the most curious and in
/ tcresting customs he told your correspon-
dent Of was that of kava drinking among
the inhabitants of the Samoan group Of
islands. lie spoke very highly of those
people, and said they were the finest race
of people he had seen, the men being Of
large and almost perfect physique, SYM
metricully proportioned, with straight,
coarse black hair and q rich brownish
color. lie also said the women were
ever more attractive than the men, be-
cause Of their mild manners, kind and
happy dispositions.
The custom Of making, and the FORM
alities Of drinking the kava, as related
by the surgeon, was intensely interesting
and will be news to all readers. kava,
he said, was a vegetable growth that
grew IN abundance on the islands belong
ing TO the pepper family, and from the
roots of this plant they made their ma
tional drink Of kava, by first chewing the
root until it was well masticated, then
placing it in a wooden basin which they
made for the purpose. and mixing it with
water, it was ready to he served out. He
said the first thought of this is always
repulsive to q civilized white man. and lie
invariably refuses to drink Il it when
offered 10 him, but if he stays in the
islands long his prejudice is sure 10 be
overcome, and it is not q great while be-
fore he becomes a convert and is fond of
the strange drink.
In describing the process Of brewing
the strange beverage he said a young
girl, the most comedy and attractive in
a household or village, was the one Sc
lected TO chew the root, which would
first be thoroughly cleansed and broken
into small pieces suitable for the size OF
the damscl's mouth. Before commenc.
ing to mastica,e she would invariably
thoroughly wash out her mouth with
water in presence Of all the assembled
guests, and would then fold her graceful
person, a Ia Turk, upon a mat spread on
the floor. and chew and chew, all in one
mouthful, until a sufficient quantity
would be ready. The hands, in the
meantime, having been also washed,
should receive the bolus,' and with a
graceful motion dash it into the bowl,
made Of wood, in the shape of a tin wash
basin with four short feet, when the
water would be added and the chewed
root thoroughly mixed up with the hands
and by a dexterous manner all the coarse
particles removed. When the beer is
adjudged to be completed by the fail
one, three vigorous clippings Of the
hands all round signifies it /.
ready to be served. Strange to
say, the most punctilious etiquette
ID observed in serving it, and fol
the want Of which many an irreparablt
offense, in the estimation of the tru,
Samoan, has been given. The honored
guest always receives the first bowl, and,
according to the dictation of an old chief,
the head of the family or the master Of
ceremonies. The nut brown maiden, Q
blushing figure of symmetrical physical
beauty, presides at the bowl, Phoebe
like, dishing out the Samoan nectar.
A custom most closely related to thi:
peculiar habit, continued the doctor, i
that Of pal eating by the natives of the
Sandwich or Hawaiian Islands. Pal i
strictly Hawaiian, he said, and is eaten
by every man, woman and child, from
King Kalakaua down, in those islands,
and forms the mainstay Of life for the
common people. The habit is so univer.
sally established that the native Hawaiians
are called and known by the name Of
"Pai-eaters.h
There grows in all the Pacific islands
plant Of the lily family, with large rich
leaves and straight, Dubious root. which
is full Of farinaceous food material,
which, together with bread fruit, form.
the staple of life with the Polynesians,
taking the place of bread and potatoes,
1t is from this root that pal is made.
Pal making is as much of an institution
and quite as great a necessity in thu
Sandwich Islands as bread making is in
the United States.
Thepai maker TO his Majesty Kalakaua
is regarded by him in favor next TO hi:
chamberlain, and is a parsonage much
envied. 1t is prepared fresh every day
by first roasting the taro roots, from
which it is made, MASKING and mixing il
with q proper quantity OF water, then
carefully strained to free il from all
Jumps, after which it is set aside 10 fer.
ment. When fermentation advances Il
the proper degree it is ready TO he sold e
the consumer. II is now either white,
pinkish or blue in color, according 10 the
kind Of taro used in making, has the con,
sistency Of thick -four starch, looks like
il, and, In fact, smells like it. 1t L
served in Koawood bowls, highly
polished and Of different sizes, according
to the tastes and capacity Of the happy
eater Of pal.
The n Of eating pal is not, al
first, 30 distasteful to the stranger q.
kaya drinking, but to a perfectly refined
taste. according 10 our accentnncp of the