, 1889-03-15
U SEA CUSTOMS.
Wrecked Sailors Fossted by Royalty.
Drinking Kavn with the Natives

Wrecked Sailors Toasted BY Royalty.
Drinking Kava with the Natives
Even at this late period in the Nine
tenth 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 South Pncific, 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 days. II was the island of
Manus, located about 10 degrees south
latitude and 170 degrees west longi-
tude. There is only one white resi-
dent there-an Englishman.
After the arrival OF the shipwreckod
party King Malatua, 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 70 bring in the material for
the dinner, which they did. 1t was
o'clock in the afternoon, banana leaves
DtihE HtPAN@AA III ~ hOO tflF u IitDle
cover The king sat at the head with
his chiefs on his right. Capt. Murphy
was to occupy tho seat TO his left but,
as he was i'll, tho kings daughter took
the seat. A crowd OF natives were
ranged around the walls of tho house,
while women and girls were singing
and dancing on the outside for the
amusement of the guests. The bill Of
fare consisted OF raw fish, fish blood
sauce. cocoanuts, cocoanut milk, fowls,
roasted pig and sweet potatoes.
After the dinner two u girls
were sent out to dig up some Eava
roots, and when they returned with
the required quantity they were
ushered into the banqueting hall.
They washed the roots and then sat
down in front Of a large basin partly
filled with water. Each maiden was
provided with a sort of ladle, which
was fastened under her chin by
of thongs passed over tho head. A
root vas then taken by each young
lady and the process OF mastfcation
commenced.
AS they chewed the saliva ran out
of each corner Of their mouth and Into
the Indie prepared to receive 1t under
their chin. As soon as 1t became ful
IT was taken off and emptied into tho
basin. When the root was sufficiently
chewcd II 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 II, throwing the refuse
away.
The liquid In the basin was then
stirred up. cocoanuts shell cups were
produced, and the decoction was
handed TO each of the guests by the
Indies who had done tho chewing.
We were warned by tho Englishman
in an undertono that TO refuse would
give otfense, so each gallant tar par
took thereof with expressions and feel
ings akin to hat of the small boy who
was forced TO swallow a dose OF salts.
1t tasted and looked just like soapsuds,
and another dose in my case would
certainly have acted as an emetio. The
natives IRE very fond of II and drink il
readily. II has u most peculiar effect
upon the human system
You will see a ring Of natives drink.
ing kava, and apparently nothing the
matter with them. each man talking
and netting in a perfectly rational
manner; but let one of them attempt
to rise and you will notice the differ
ence He is drunk from his waist
to his feet while his upper story has
not been affected at all.
When we had finished our meal the
native men and women sat down, the
festival being continued until II
O'Clock After eight days on the ISL
and we were taken to Apin, Somoa,
ard there We shipped for homc.-San
francisco Chronicle.