Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1889-07-09
A SEDUCTIVE DRINK.
The National Beverage Of samoa aa<
How u Il CoaeOcted.


How ~ IL coseocted. /
Hospitality il part Of the Samoan
religion. poiifenes- one OF their CHIEF
characteristics, and dishonest act the
exception Food and shelter are vouch- /
safed to every one entering their homes
or villages, and the stranger has but
70 consult his own wishes when ne ID /
ready to depart Attached TO every
village Is Faietnls. or guest-house,
set apart for the reception, lodging and
entertainment or visitors Generally
this Is situated in the middle OF the
village. and il also used as a council
house on occasions when the chief and
the people assemble to discuss subjects
Of Importance. Foreigners and WIS.,
itors from other villages are at once
conducted TO this house. set apart for
their occupation, a journey OF consider
BILE distance often being made es-
peciaily TO meet them, when they are
received by the chief of the town and
the maid whose duty it is to look after
the welfare Of the guests. During the
preliminary conversation. In which the
compliments of the day are exchanged
with lavish expenditure Of persona.
Battery, the kaya-bowI Is produced.
and while the free interchange OF com
pliments continues, the beyifchfnc
nut-browu maid. with the assistance
Of her dasky attendants, begins too
masticate the seductive root In the
meantime the villagers. being advised
| Of the arrival OF the visitors. have ss-
senbled in another part OF the village,
collected articles of food. aad begun to
sing and march in procession towards
the Fate-taie. Boys and girls. young
and old. making q festive
display. their persons anointed
| with cocoauut oil and arrayed
In scanty toilets OF leaves and flowers,
| join in demonstration Of songs OF
praise and welcome The music OF
| their weii-attuued voices, first heard
family In the distance aud increasing
in sweetness and volume as they APP
proach nearer and nearer. produces
charming effect. the impression oil
which is long retained by strangers.
In the meantime the guests. who have
remained seated and silent. if uncon-
scious of what is going on. preserve g
wonderful solemuity Of countenance al
each donor in turn modestIy places
his Offering at the feet of the mosl
honored one, with salutatiOns inimit-
able in gracefulness- On such occa
sions food. consisting Of fruits. fish
and sucking pigs, is sometimes given
in sufficient quantities TO sustain 1
visiting party for days and weeks
No occasion of ceremony or impor
lance takes place without the Use o
kava- a root OF the pepper family, ans
all exchanges of sociabiiity are con
Quoted under its influence. The con
coction of the seductive beverage mad
from this root is attended with so man
ceremouious observations and accia
nations of approval that al aceoun
: of the customs OF these people woaid b
incomplete without reference to III
manner in which the drink is prepared
A wooden bowl. cocoanut cup, an
a strainer are the implements used i
I
the chief social Importance in Samos
"the maid of the village il invariabl
I called upon to brew the beverage
a which ceremony. with her attendants
/. she conducts with becoming dignity
After carefully washing out he
mouth in the presence of q
. assembled. she seats herself W
:, on the matted floor with til
: bowl in front of her. and with resigne
n manner and preoceupied countenanc
= begins to Inasticate the bits of rol
h handed her by the attendants Piec
n after piece is chewed until the mout
4 is full and the cheeks bullying. whe
. the mass is elected into the palm {
o her hand and. with graceful swins
4 deposited in the bowl This operatio
: is repeated until the proper quantit
q of the root Is secured Then her hand
!, are washed scrupulously clean. and 3
is attendant having poured the require
amount of water into the bowl. II
N maid proceeds with the compoundiu
If With graceful rolling and twistis
=. movement of the hands she mikes q
II the undissolved portions of the root
~. the ''fou," or strainer, which. AFT
= wringing. is shaken out, and the strai
y, ing repeated until the brew is duishe
ot Century.
ID
Il. LOVE OF NATURE