News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1889-02-21
SOUTH SEA CUSTOMS.
Sailors Feasted by Royalty-Drink-
ing Kava With the Natives.

Even at this late perio in the nine
teenth century, when the people are
supposed to know something of almost
every habitable spot upon the globe,
they continually meet with something
new in the habits and customs of races
living in some remote part of the world.
Members of the crew of the ship John
Bryce, which was wrecked in the Pacific
some time ago, give a graphic account of
the drinking of ''kava'' by the natives of
the island upon which they landed after
being in an open boat seven days. It
was the island of Manus. There is only
one white resident there-an English
man, who has been on the island nearly
forty years.
After the arrival of the ship-wrecked
party, King Malatus, who reigns over
the little island, gave them a banquet,
which is thus described by John Wilke
one of the crew.
His Majesty issued an order to his
subjects to bring in the material for the
dinner, which they did. 1t was served
in large bamboo house at o'clock
in the afternoon, banana leaves being
spread on the floor for table cover.
The king sat at the head with his chiefs
on his right. Captain Murphy was to
occupy the seat to his left, but rs he
was unwell the kings daughter took the
seat. A crowd of natives were ranged
around the walls of the house, while
women and girls were singing and dan
cling on the outside for tho amusement
of the guests. The bill of fare consist
ed of ray fish, fish blood sauce, cocoa
nuts, cocoanut milk, fowls, roasted pig
and sweet potatoes.
"After the dinner two young girls
were sent out to dig up some kava roots,
and when they returned with the re-
quired quantity they were ushered into
the banqueting hall. They washed the
roots and then sat down i'll front of
large basin partly filled with water.
Each maiden was provided with sort
of ladle, which was fastened under the
chin by means of thongs passed over
the head. A root then taken by
eaolrSyoung Indy Wn,i' the process or mas
tication commenced. AS they chewed
their mouth and into the ladle pre-
pared to receive it under their chin.
AS soon rs it became full it was taken
off and emptied into the basin. When
the root was sufficiently chewed it also
was spat into tho basin.
When all the roots had been treated in
this manner the girls proceeded to rub
the stuff they had chewed between their
hands and wrung and squeezed the juice
out of it, throwing the juice away. The
liquid in the basin was then stirred up,
cocoanut she'll cups we're produced, and
the decoction was handed to each of the
guests, by the young ladies who had
done the chewing. We were warned by
the Englishmau in an undertone that to
refuse would give offence, so each gal
liant tar partook thereof with expressions
and feelings akin to that of the small
boy who was forced to swallow q dose of
salts. 1t tasted and looked just like
soapsuds, and another dose would GER
taInly have acted as an emetic. The na-
tives are very fond of it and drink it
readily. 1t has most peculiar effect
upon the human system. You will see
n ring of natives drinking kava, and ap-
parently nothing the matter with them,
each man talking and eating in o per-
fectly rational manner; but let one of
them attempt to rise and you will notice
! the difference. He is drunk from his
waist down to his feet while his upper
story is not affected Mt all.
/ "When we had finished our meal the
native men and women sat down, the
festival being continued until eleven
o'clock. After eight days on the Island
we were taken to Apin, Samoa, and
there we shipped for home. San Fran
cisco ChTORjclc.