Clarksville evening chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn) 1886-1890, 1888-11-06
AMONG rAg poLYNrsiANs.
Their Habits and customs-B Brewing che
National Drink-The i,al Maker.

WnItaker ne sara no joined MS snip, tho
NIohican, at San Francisco, CsI., in May,
1855, and sailed in her through the Col.
den Gate the following month for an ex-
tensive cruise in the South Pacific, which
lasted over three years His supply Of
information shows that he has been
close observer OF the customs and habits
Of the Polynesians. As a surgeon, he
was brought more intimately in contact
with them than others, and had the op-
portunity OF becoming personally ac-
quainted with many of their strange
doings, ;snd no says some of his best
friends have been formed among those
people. One of the most curious and in
teresting customs he told your correspon-
dent of was that of kava drinking among
tho inhabitants Of the Samoan group OF
islands. He spoke very highly Of those
people, and said they were the finest race
of people lie had sctn. the men being of
large and almost perfect physique, SYM
metrically proportional, with straight,
coarse black hair and rich brownish
color. lilo also said tho 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 kaya. as related
by the surgeon, was intensely Interesting
aud viii 10 news to all readers. Knva,
he said, was vegetable growth that
grew III abundance on the islands belong.
ing to the pepper family, and from the
roots CT this plant they made their ma
tional drink of kava, by first chewing tho
root until il was well masiicatcd, then
placing it in wooden basin which they
made fer the purpose, andlnixingit with
water, it was ready to be served out. Hc
said the first thought Of this Is always
repulsivc to civilized white man. and no
invariably refuses TO drink Of it when
offered to him, but IL he stays In tho
islands long his prejudice Is sure to ba
overcome, and ii is not great while be-
fore he becomes q convert and Is fond Of
tho strange drink.
In describing tho process Of brewing
the strange beverage no said young
girl. the mos; vonlely and attractive in
household c. village. WIS tho ono Sc
lected to chew tho rUo., which would
first be thoroa .hly clearsnd and broken
into small pieces suitab!, for tho size OF
the damsel's mouth. Before commence
ing to masticate sho would invariably
thoroughly wash out her mouth with
water in presence of all tho assembled
guests, and would then fold her graceful
person. o Ia Turk, upon mat spread ON
the floor, and chew and chew, all in ore
mouthful, until n sufficient quantity
would be ready. The hands, In the
meantime, having been also washed
should receive the bolus, and with
graceful motion dash it into the howl,
made Of wood, in the shape Of tin wash
basin with four short feet, when tho
water would lie added and the chewed
root thoroughly mixed up with tho hands
and by dcxterous manner all tho coarse
particles removed. When the beer Is
adjudgcd to be- completed by the fair
one. three vigorous clippings Of the
hands ali round signifes II IL
ready to he served. Strange to
say, the most punctilious etiquette
is observed in serving ii, and for
tho waDt Of which many ON iTcraable
otfense, in the estimation Of tho truo
Samoan, has been given. Tho honored
guest always receives tho first bowl. AID.
according to tEc dic.ation Of IN old chief
the head Of the fnpiily or the master CT
ceremonies. Tho nut brown maiden. q
blushing figure Of symmetrical physical
beauty, pgcsides Mt the bowl. Phoebe
like, dishing out tho Samoan nectar.
\ custom most closely related 10 this
peculiar habit. continued tho doctor. IL
that Of pn. eating by tho natives of tho
Sandwich or Hawaiian lslards. Pei II
strictly Hawaiian, he said. and u eaten
by every man. WOMAN and cliill, from
King Kalakaua down, in those Islands.
and forms the mainstay Of life fer tho
comulcn people. Tic habit Is ~ un!ver.
sally established that TIE nntiyC ,awai;ass
ere called ard Known b. the nano Cf
"Pai-oaters."
There grows in ell tao Pacific islands
plant of the lily family, with urge rich
leaves and straight, bnlbou9 root, which
is full OF farinaceous food material.
which, together with bread fruit. forms
the staple Of life with tho Polyncsians
taking tho place Of bread aIfd potatoes.
1t is from this root that pai Is rlgGe.
Pal making ID as much OF an iassitnfion
and quite as great necessity Ia tho
Sandwich Islands IS brco1 making Is n
tho United States.
The pal maker . Lis Majesty ISalakaua
is regarded ~ hiia in faycr nest to la5
chamberlain, and Is pcrs0aaee fnnch
enviad II il prepared fresh every Gay
by first roasting the taro roo,S from
which it H. made, r1ashinS end mixing il
with a pepper quantity Of y.ater, thea
carefully straincd 20 free il from al
humps, after which it Is set aside 10 fer.
nlcnt. Wien fermentation advances O.
the proper degree it Is ready 10 lso sold u
the consumer. II is ROW either Whit.
pinlish or blno il color. according 20 tho
l:ii,d cf taso used IN making. las the coz
sistcrcy q t!.icl: Cocr starch, Looks lie
Il, anis, in fact. srs,ils lilo 1t. Il u
served 10 Eolwood bowls, highly
polished and Ct different sizes, accardins
to the tastes 2ud capacity cf TO happy
eater Of ri.
'Tlc Elar.cr CT eating Pei 10 not, at
Fist SO disias.cfrl to the Stranger g
kava drinking. bet to perfectly rciiae1
tas:c, accc7ltnS to Cur acceptance cf tho
word, the frs: reras. CT raw fis.l whic.i
? (. l.ar tfss