The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1889-01-11
AMONG THE PouYNEsIANs.
Their Habits and Custcms-Brcwing ths
National Drinl--The Pal Maker.


National Drinlx--The Pal Maker.
While conversing with Surgeon II. w.
Whitaker he said he Joined his ship, the
Mohican, at San Francisco, CAL, in May,
1885, and sailed in her through the Col
den Gate the following month for an ex-
tensive cruise in the South Pacific, which
lasted over three years. His supply OF
information shows that he has been
close observer Of the customs and habits
Of the Polynesians. As surgeon, no
was brought more intimately in contact
with them than others, and had the op-
portunity of becoming personally ac-
quainted with many Of their strange
doings, and hc says some of his best
friends have been formed among those
people. One of the most curious and in
teresting customs he told your correspon-
dent of was that of kava drinking among
tho inhabitants Of the Samoan group Of
islands. He spoke very highly OF those
people, and said they were the finest race
of people ho had seen, the men being of
large and almost perfect physique, SYM
metrically proportioned, with straight,
coarse black hair and rich brownish
color. He also said the women were
even moro attractive than the men, be-
cause Of their mild manners, kind and
happy dispositions.
The custom Of making, and the form
alities of drinking the kava, as related
by the surgeon, was intensely interesting
and will be news to all readers. Kava,
he said, was vegetable growth that
grew IN abundance on the islands belong
ing to the pepper family, and from the
roots of this plant they made their ma
tional drink of kava, by first chewing the
root until it was well masticated, then
placing it in n wooden basin which they
made for the purpose, and mixing it with
water, it was ready to be served out. He
said the first thought of this is always
repulsive to q civilized white man, and he
invariably refuses to drink Of it when
offered to him, but if he stays in the
islands long his prejudice is sure to be
overcome, and it is not q great while be-
| fore he becomes q convert and is fond Of
the strange drink.
In describing the process Of brewing
tho strange beverage he said young
| girl, the most comely and attractive in
q household or village, was the one Sc
lected to chew the root, which would
| first be thoroughly cleansed and broken
into small pieces suitable for the size of
tho damsers mouth. Before commenc-
thoroughly wash out her mouth with
water in presence of all the assembled
guests, and would then fold her graceful
person, q Ia Turk, upon mat spread on
the floor, and chew and chew, all in one
mouthful, until sufficient quantity
would be ready. The hands, in the
meantime, having been also washed,
should receive the bolus, and with q
graceful motion cash it into the bowl,
made Of wood, in the shape Of a tin wash
basin with four short feet, when tho
water would be added and the chewed
root thoroughly mixed up with the hands
and by q deXterous manner all the coarse
PARTICLES removed. When the beer is
adjudged to be completed by the fair
one, three vigorous clappings of the
hands all round signifies it is
ready to be served. Strange to
say, the most punctilious etiquette
is observed in serving it, and for
the want of which many an irreparable
offense, in the estimation of the true
Samoan, has been given. The honored
guest always receives the first bowl, and,
tne head OF the family or the master of
ceremonies. Tho nut brown maiden, a
blushlnS figure of symmetrical physical
like, dishing out the Samoan nectar.
A custom most closely related to this
peculiar habit, continued the doctor, is
that of pal eating by the natives of the
Sandwich or Hawaiian Islands. Pal is
strictly Hawaiian, he said, and is eaten
by every man, woman and child, from
King Kalakaua down, in those islands,
and forms the mainstay of life for the
common people. The habit is SO univer-
sally established that tho native Hawaiians
are called and known by the name Of
''Pai-eaters."
Thcrc grows in oil the Pacific islands a
plant OF the lily family, with largo rich
leaves and straight, Dubious root, which
Is full of farinaceous food material
which, together with bread fruit, fo-ms
the staple of life with the Polynesians,
taking tho place of bread and potatoes.
1t Is from this root that pal is made.
Mai making is as much of an Institution
and quite rs great n necessity in tho
Sandwich Islands as bread making is in
tho United States.
The pai maker 81 @ tq his hi MaiestHKe tHeKk kaaJ51s fJ
chamberlain, and is q parsonage much
envied. 1t is prepared fresh every day
by first roasting the taro roots, from
which it is made, mashing and mixing it
with proper quantity of water, then
carefully strained to free it from all
Jumps, after which it is set aside to fer
mcnt. When fermentation advances to
the proper degree it is ready to be sold to
the consumer. 1t is now either white,
pinkish or bluo in color, according to the
kind of taro used in making, has the con-
sistency OF thick flour starch, looks like
it, and, in fact smells lilSo if IT, Ia
served in Koawood bowls, highly
polished and Of different sizes, according
to the tastes and capacity of the happy
eater of pal.
The manner of eating pal is not, at
first, so distasteful to tho stranger as
kava drinking, but to perfectly refined
taste, according to our acceptance of the
word, the first rcpast of raw fish which
is always eaten with pal is not happily
calculated to sharpen tho appetite. The
bowl Of mi ia plocoJ in f.opt of tbn