Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-04-06

another. believing himself to be of higher
rank, and as such, entitled to prior service.
| As soon as the hand clapping is over, one Of
the house party, who is appointed sort of
toast-master and upon whom devolves the duty
OF correctly distributing the kava, calls out, in
loud, sing-song tone of voice. Here is the
kara. Let 1t be shared out" One or more OF
the girls VIII then arise, and, taking in hand a
cup will present it to be filed by one in charge
OF the bowl This is done by plunging the
strainer into the liquid and squeezing the con-
tents into the cup, which for the purpose is held
over the bowl. Even, in this simple perform
ance. there is found room for the display Of
considerable grace. the bearer swinging the
cup away from the bowl, and returning il to its
former position: on each occasion the strainer
Is recharged IN time to receive the ne xt squeeze
ana so on. until the cup is filed. She will then
face about. and. with the cup held deicately
by the farthest rim
| LEVEL WITH HER DIMPLED CHIN,
and with raised arm, stand in a most charming
attitude of expectation awaiting the crier's in
structions, to whom she is to take the cup He,
| OF course, having made his arrangements be-
forehand. calls outat the top of his voice, with
ioua, introductory shout the more prolonged
| the better: "Oh! a cup of kava for -"
mentioning the name of the highest individual
In rank. to whom our bronze-tinted Hebe. with
| all dignity possible, crosses over and standing
IN 'front.', cup IN the same position, bends down
| gracefully, at the same time lowering it with a
grand sweeping motion, until It reaches the
| recipients hands. She then. with the prettiest
air OF studied humility, stands back and to one
SIDE, awaiting the further pleasure of the indi-
! vldual she has Just assisted who either RETURNS
the cup to her or skins it along the matted
| hoor with more less dexteritv toward the
bowl, the highest aim of which practice is to
make 1t stop exactly in front of it.
There can be no doubt that the preparation
| OF kava. as practiced in Samoa, is in the alb
| stract, repugnant to foreign tastes and ideas
and that there Is every excuse for entertaining
sensation of disgust with regard to it; but
nevertheless. as fact. it is not very long be-
lore the feeling of. and the stranger
takes to the national beverage as kindly, if not
more so, than the native himself The aversion
| to the operation of chewing the root is made
vastly more easy to be overcome by the visible
and careful precaution taken TO assure perfect
Cleanliness while the appearance of the girl
herself who performs this duty. the very incar-
nation of purity and glorious health together
with the graceful manner in which she does her
work, go very long way toward reconciling
the tyro to patronizing practice which under
very slightly different circumstances, ne would
never be brought to consider at all without
| loathing.
The taste of the beverage to the virgin palate
Is by no means tempting, being somewhat of
the flavor of soapsuds, with curious tinge of
ginger about it, leaving, however, after swal-
lowing, not an unpleasant sense of smoothness
III the mouth. 1t cannot, however. be denied
That 1t Is very appropriate drink for the eli
mate, being moderate stimulant and. at the
same time, an astrlngent and a very useful
dluretlc. lntoxication may be produced Of a
peculiar and local nature by INDUCING too
freely in this flowing bowl
THE EDIBLE DELIcAcY-THE PALoIo.
These islands have reefs extending around
them, and formed Of coral, and near them the
natives gather the palolo, a very curious.
thread-like sea-worm, appearing in the reef
openings once a year, and only tor the single
hour before sunrise. On their arrival the ma
yves assemble In their canoes and SCOOP them
In ballers of all sorts. esteeming them i'm
mensely as an edible delicacy. The Samoans
can calculate to a moment when their arrival is
due by observing the juxtapostion of the moon
with certain star. If, however they should
not appear on that day, they can be safely cal
culated to arrive that same day four weeks
hence. This fishing, one of the romps of the
season. is looked forward to by both young and
old. When collected the natives send the ma
iolo all over the island post-haste, as compli-
mentary presents to one another, in the same
manner that presents Of game are made in
other countries.
THE ''TALoLo," OR FOOD OFFERING
A beautiful Samoan ceremony is that which
is called the "Talolo'-a food Offering. The
scene of the ceremony is the Malae. or town
square, in which all public meetings of what
soever description are held. Here IN the shade
OF some house tree the recipients of the
compliment will seat themselves in solemn
state and with the most profound gravity await
the coming event. In the neighboring bush
however, or, at all events, out of sight the
chiefs of the bearers are marshalng their pro-
cesslons and putting the finishing touches to
their own gorgeous array. Here is busy
scene; crowds are hard at work painting. oil
ing, and otherwise getting themselves up in all
ways that severe Samoan washerdom demands
| All are dressed in their best, or the very best
they can borrow from their friends and shin
ing with as much oil as can cling to their bodies.
| The olllng department is strictly attended to
by the ladies of the company, who are to be
seen very busy going from one to another,
| greasing them up in the latest approved
fashion. The chiefs are the most particularly
| dressed in full war paint, their extraordinary
fighting head dresses of human hair standing
| about two feet high above a bandeau of CLEAN.
| ing pearl-shell knobs casped around the for.
head. In the center of the hair plume imme-
diately above the bandeau, worn as an aigrette.
securing a bunch of the long red feathers of
the boatswain bird, is fastened a round mirror
OF about three inches in diameter. The neck
lace of scarlet pandanus fruit is there; around
the waist is the usual, green-bush creeper. with
two or three fine mats for full dress and club
or spear in hand, with bodies redoIent and
shining with perfumed oil, the head men stand
ready to lead their divisions
THE MAIDS OF THE DISTRICT,
too, are there, bare to the waist, and attired in
all the barbaric splendor they can muster.
sPorIiliS aLhiets anu Wnat can De termed knee
lets of leaves; proud as they can possibly be.
letting all know it, they stand ready. able. and
willing to do their best for the credit of their
own towns and to assist their chiefs in working
their followers into sufficient state of noisy
hospitality, worthy of a nation to whom enter
tainment Is fixed principle. Everything
ready, each division will form into column four
deep, with all the intended gifts shouldered. and
a most comprehensive lot it is. Barrels of beef,
pork, salt salmon, roasted and live pigs of all
sizes, tins of biscuit of all sorts, live fowls,
yams, taro, timed meats of all descriptions.
generally recognized under the head of pea
sops," name adopted from the fact that the
first canned provisions ever introduced in
Samoa WAS the preserved pea SOUP which the
visiting whalers used to carry. Everyone must
offer something, even if it is only biscuit.
With a loud shout the provision train. headed
by its chiefs and maids, issues from its hiding
place, and, all chanting loudly a song of wei.
come, or their particular district song one di-
vision will march slowly toward the malae
(town square), where sit, with the most digni-
fed stoicism. the recipients of the honor, to all
appearances unaware of, or Indifferent to, what
is going on. During the whole time Of the adj
vance the chiefs and maids are engaged in
dancing in front of or around their men in
A GREAT STATE OF EXCITEMENT
As the troops get nearer and nearer their
destination, the interest becomes greater in
proportion. Clubs and axes are hurled in the
air, and cleverly caught descending, or whirled