The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-11-10
AMONG T.E rOLyNeSlANS.
Their Ha,.lts and customs-Brewingth The
National Driuk-Tbe Pa Maker.

While conversing with Surgeon II. w.
Whitaker he said be Joined ms ship. the
Mohican, at San francisco Cal, in May.
1885. and sailed in her through the Col
den Gate the following month for an ey.
tensive cruise I'm the South Pacific. which
lasted over three years. His supply Of
information shows that be has been
close observer # the customs and habits
Of the Polynesans. As surgeon. he
was brought moTe Intimately IN contact
with them than Shers, and had the OPP
ppr;uDiiy Of becoming personally ac-
puainied with many of their strange
dOings, and hc says some OF his bes,
friends have been formed among those
people One Of the most curious and Ia
teresting customs he told your correspon'
dent of was that 81 kava drinking among
the Inhabitants Of the Samoan group OF
islands He spoke very highly OF those
people, and said they were the finest race
Of people he bad seen. the men being OF
large and almost perfect physique, sym
mctrically proponioned, with straight,
coarse black hair and a rich browuish
color. lie also said the women were
even 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,
l.. col Ia
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 il in q wooden basin which they
made for the purpose, and mixing it with
water, it WAS ready 10 be served out lie
said the first thought of this is always
repulsive 10 a civilized white man. and he
invariably refuses TO drink Of j, when
offered to him, bat if he stays in the
islands long his prejudice Is sure to be
overcome. and it Is not a great while be-
fore lac becomes convert and Is fond Of
the strange drink.
In describing the process Of brewing
the strange beverage he said Young
gir. the most comely and attractive IN
a household or village, was the one Sc
lCcted TO chew the root, which would
first be thoroughly c'eansed and broken
into small pieces suitable for the size Of
the damsels mouth. Before commenc-
ing 10 masticatc sire would invariably
thoroughly wash ont her mouth with
water in presence Of all the assembled
guests and would then fold her graceful
person. a ~ Turk upon a mat spread on
the floor. and chew and chew, all IN one
mouthfui. 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 IL into the bowl,
made of wood, in the shape of a tin wash
basin with four short feet. when the
wate- would be added aud the chewed
root thoroughly mixed W with the hands
and by a dexterOus manner all the coarse
particles removed. When tine beer Is
adiudged 20 be- completed by tine fair
enc. three vigorous clippings of the
hands all round signifies it Is
ready to be served Strange TO
say, the most punctllious tlquette
Is observed IN serving II, and for
the want Of which many an irreparable
ohense, in the estimation of the true
Samoan. has been given. The honored
guest always receives the first bowl and,
according 10 the dictation of an old chef,
the head Of the family or the master Of
ceremonies The nut brown maiden, .
blushing figure Of symmetrical physical
leauty. presidcs at the bowl, Phoebe
like dishing out the Samoan nectar.
\ custom most closely related to this
peculiar habit, continued the doctor, is
that Of PAL eating by the natives Of the
Sandwich or Hawaiian Islands Pal Is
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 50 univer-
sally established that the native Hawaiians
are called and known by the name OF
"Fai-eaters."
There grows in all the Pacific Islands q
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. forms
the staple of life with the Polynesians,
taking the place of bread and potatoes.
1t is from this root that pai IS made
Pal making is as much of an institution
and quite as great necessity iii the
Sandwich Islands as bread making is in
the United States.
The pal maker to his Majesty kalakaua
is regarded by him in favor next TO his
chamberlain, and is a parsonage much
enyied 1t is prepared fresh every day
by first roasting the taro roots, from
which il is made, MASKING and mixing it
with a proper quantity of water. then
carefully strained 10 free it from all
Jumps, after which it is set aside to fer
ment. When fermentation advances 10
the proper degree it is ready TO be sold to
the consumer Ii is now either white.
'-akish or blue in color, according to tho