The Arkansaw traveler., 1889-06-08


Of articles on Samoa In the May Cent
Ery we quote the following: GHospi-
tality Ii q part of the Samoan religion,
politeness one of their chief character
istics, and Q dishonest oct the excep-
tion. Food and shelter are vouchsafed
to every one entering their homes or
villages. Attached to most every
village Is q FdIe- tale, or guest house,
set apart for the reception, lodging
and entertainment Of visitors. Gen.
orally this IL situated In the middle of
the village, and IL also used as q
council-hous on occasions when the
chief and the people assemble TO
discuss subjects of importance. For
eigners and visitors from other villages
are &C once conducted to this house
set apart for their occupation, q jour-
ney of considerable distance often
being made especially to meet them,
when they are received by the chief OF
the town and the maid whose duty IL
Ii to look after the welfare of the
guests. During the preliminary con-
versation, In which the compliments
Of the day are exchanged with q lavish
expenditure of personal hattery, the
kava-bowl Is produced, and while the
free interchange Of compliments con-
tinues, the bewitching nut brown
maid, with the assistance of her dusky
attendants, begins to masticate the Sc
ductive root. In the meantime the viii
layers, being advised of the arrival of
the visitors, have assembled In another
part of the village, collected articles
Of food, and begun to sing and march
in procession towards the FdIe- tate.
Boys and girls, young and old, making
festive display, their persons
anointed with cocoanut oil and
arrayed in scanty toilets of leaves snd
flowers, join in demonstration Of songs
of praise and welcome. The music of
their well-attuned voices, first heard
family In the distance and increasing
In sweetness and volume as they
approach nearer and nearer, produces
q charming effect, the impression of
which is long retained by strangers.
In the meantime the guests, who have
remained seated and silent, as IL un-
conscious of what Is going on, preserve
q wonderful solemnity of countenance
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,
fab and sucking pigs, Is sometimes
given In sufficient quantities to sustain
Q visiting party for days and weeks.
"No occasian of ceremony or impor-
lance takes place without the use of
kava, 9 root Of the pepper family, and
oil exchanges of sociability are con-
Quoted under its influence. The con-
coction Of the seductive beverage made
from this root Ia attended with 90
many ceremonious observances and
acclamations Of approval that an
account of the customs of these people
would be incomplete without reference
to the manner In which the drink IL
prepared.
"a wooden bowl, q cocoanut cup,
and q strainer are the implements used
in making the brew. That parsonage
Of the chief social importance In
Somoa, 'the maid of the village, is
invariably called upon 10 brew the
beverage, which ceremony, with her
attendants, she conducts with becom-
ing dignity. After carefully washing
out her mouth In the presence of all
assembled, she seats herself upon the
matted floor with the bowl In front
of her, and with resigned manner and
preoccupied countenance begins to
masticate the bits of root handed her
by the attendants. Piece after piece