The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1889-05-10
The BEVERAGE Of samoa.

From a p~rofnsely illustrated series of
articles on Samoa IN the May Century we
quote the following: Hospitality is a
part of the Samoan religion, politeness
one of their chief characteristics, and a
dishonest act the exception. Food or
shelter are ~vouchsafed to everyone en-
tering their homes or villages, and the
stranger has but to consult his own
wishes when he is ready to depart. At
tached to every village is a Fale-tale, OR
guest house set apart for the reception,
lodging, and entertainment of visitors.
Generally this is situated in the middle
OF the village and is also used as a coun-
Gil house On occasions when the chief
and the people assemble to discuss sub
jects of Importance. Foreigners and Wis
itors from other villages are at once con-
Quoted to this house set apart fox
their occupation, a Journey of considcra-
able distance often being made especially
to meet them, when they are received by
the chief of the town and the maid whose
duties it is to look after the welfare of
the guests. During the preliminary con-
versation, in which the compliments of
the day are exchanged with u lavish ex.
penditure of personal flattery, the
kava-bowl is produced, and while the
free interchange of compliments contin.
ues, the bewitching nut brown maid,
with the assistance Of her dusky attend
ants, begins to masticatc the seductive
root. In the meantime the villagers,
beng advised of the arrival of the Welt
ors, have assembled in smother part of
the village, collected articles of food,
and begun to sing and march in process
sion towards the Fale.tale. Boys and
girls, young and old, making a festive
display, their persons anointed
with cocoanut oil and arrayed
in scanty toilets of leaves and flowers,
join in demonstration of songs of praise
and welcome. The music of their we'll
attuned voices, first heard family in the
distance and increasing in sweetness and
volume as they approach nearer and
nearer, produces a charming effect, the
impression of which is long retained by
strangers. Ia the meantime the guests,
who have rcmsinod seated and silent, as
if unconscious of what is going on, pre-.
serve a wonderful solemnity of counte-
nance as each donor in turn modestly
places his offering at the feet of the most
honored one. with salutations inimitable
in gracefulness. On such occasions food,
consisting of fruits, fish, and sucking.
pigs, is sometimes given in sufficient
quantities to sustain Il visiting party foI
days and weeks.
No occasion Of ceremony or import,
ance takes place without the use of kava
q root OF the pepper family, and all ex.
changes of sociability are conducted IN
der its influence. The c%oncoction of Tho
seductive beverage made from this roo
is attended with go many ceremonious
~observanccs and acclamations of ap
proval that an account of the customs o.
these people would be incomplete with
out reference to the manner in whicl
the drink is prepared.
"a wooden bowl, a cocoanut cup, ant
a s~trsiner are the implements used i,
making the brew. That parsonage o.
the chief social importance in Samoa
the maid Of the village is inva1iabl,
called upon to brew the beverage, which
ceremony, with her attendants
she conducts with bccomin,
dignity. After carefully washing on
her mouth in the presence of all Assem-
bed, she seats herself upon the mattet
floor with the bowl in front of her, ant
with resigned manner and preoccupiet
countenance begins to masticate the bit
of root handed her by the attendants
Piece after piece is chewed until tn,
mouth is full aud the cheeks bullying
when the mass is elected into the pain
of her hand and with a graceful swim,
deposited in the bowl. This operation i
repeated until the proper quantity of roo
is secured. Then her hands are washe,
scrupulously clean, and an attendan
having poured the required amount O
water into the bowl, tie maid proceed
with the compromising. With a graceful
rolling and twisting movement of tn
hands she mixes all the undissolved POI
lions of the root in the 'fou,' or s~trainel
after ringing, is shaken out, and til
straining repeated until the brew j
finished"