The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1889-01-11
AMONG THE PoLYNEaIANs.
Their Habits and Customs-Brewips tbs
National Drink--The Pal Maker.

National Drinl--The Pal Maker.
While conversing with Surgeon IL. w.
Whitaker he said he joined his ship, the
Mohican, at San Francisco, CAL, in May,
1885, and sailed in her through tho 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-
uuainted with many Of their strange
doings, and ho says some Of his best
friends have been formed among those
people. One of the most curious and in
| tercsting customs he told your correspon-
dent of was that of kava drinking among
the inhabitants Of the Samoan group Of
islands. He spoke very highly of those
people, and said they were the finest race
of people he had seen, the men being of
large and almost perfect physique, SYM
metrically proportioned, with straight,
coarse black hair and rich brownish
color lie also said the women were
even more 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 tho surgeon, was intensely interesting
and will be news to all readers. Kava,
he said, was n 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 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
repulsivc to 4 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 great while be-
fore he becomes convert and is fond Of
the strange drink.
In describing the process Of brewing
the strange beverage no said n young
girl, the most conlely 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-
ing to masticato she would invariably
thoroughly wash out her mouth with
water in presence of all the assembled
guests, and would then fold her graceful
person, In 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 Ehe bowl,
made Of wood, i'll the shape Of n 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 n deXterous manner all the coarse
PARTICLES removed. When the beer is
adjudgcd to be completed by the fair
one, three vigorous clappings of tho
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 tho true
Samoan, has been given. The honored
guest always receives the first bowl, and,
the nea1 Of tito faniiltyyo fil or tho master Of
ceremonies. Tho nut brown maiden, a
blushing figure of symmetrical physical
beauty, prcsidcs at tho bowl, Phoebe
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 univcr-
sally established that the native Hawaiians
are called and known by the name of
..Pai-catCrS'
There grows i'll all the Pacific islands
plant OF the lily family, with largo rich
leaves and straight, dubious root, which
Is iul! of farinaceouS food material,
which, together with bread fruit, forms
the staple Of life with the Polyncsians,
taking tho place of bread and potatoes.
1t Is from this root that pal is made.
Pai making is as much Of an Institution
and quite as great necessity in tho
Sandwich Islands as bread making is in
tho United States.
Ihspa m3kGr G tq lis HI iHeKKt f5 H&ia
chamberlain, and is parsonage much
cnvicd. 1t is prepared fresh every day
by first roasting the taro roots, from
which it is made, mashing and mixing it
with 4 proper quantity Of water, then
carefully strained to free it from all
lumps, after which it is set aside to fer
mCont. When fermentation advances to
the proper degree it is ready to bc sold to
the consumer. 1t is now either white,
| pinkish or blue in color, according to the
kind of taro used in making, has the con-
sistcncy of thick flour starch, looks like
it, and, in fact, smells liio it. 1t is
served il 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, ut
! first. so distastcful to the stranger as
kava drinking, but to q perfectly refined
taste, according to our acceptance of tho
word, the first rcpast of raw fish which
is always eaten with pal is not happily
calculated to sharpen tho appetite. Tho
bowl of pai is placed in font of tho
| guest of tho household after ho has
! folded up his feet and legs and disposed