Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1890-12-20
AMONG THE poLvNEslANs q
Their nabits and cussoms-B Brewtnx shs
National Drink-Ths Pal Maker.


Their nasits and Customs BrewiHs shs
National Drink-Ths PsI 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 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 a
close observer Of the customs and habits 4
of the Polynesians As q surgeon, he 1
was brought more intimately In contact +
with them than others, and had the OPP I
portunity OF becoming personally ac-
Quainted with many Of their strange
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
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. He 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 the surgeon, was intensely interesting
and will be news to all readers. Kava,
he said, was a 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 ii was well masticated, then
placing 1t in wooden basin which they
made for the purpose. and mixing 1t with
: water, it was ready to be served out. He
said the first thought of this is always
repulsive to civilized white man, and he
invariably refuses to drink Of it when
: offered TO him. but IL he stays In the
islands long his prejudice is sure to be
overcome, and II is not great while be-
fore he becomes a convert and is fond of
the strange drink.
q In describing the process OF brewing
3 the strange beverage he said young
o girl. the most comely and attractive in
II household or village, was the one Sc.
q lected to chew the root, which would
u first be thoroughly cleansed and broken
n into small pieces suitable for the size oi
II the dainsels mouth. Before commenc-
v ing TO masticate she would invariably
q thoroughly wash out her mouth with
u water in presence of all the assembled
, guests, and would then fold her graceful
10 person, Q la Turk, upon mat spread OF
l. the floor, and chew and chew, all in ons
A. mouthful, until o sufficient quantity
l. would be ready The hands, in tn.
ID meantime, having been also washed
as should receive the bolus, and with
al graceful motion dash IL into the bowl
ie made of wood, in the shape Of tin wasl
d basin with four short feet, when tn
water would be added and the chewe,
root thoroughly mixed up with the hand
and by "A dexterous manner all the coars
:. particles removed. When the beer
in adjudged 10 be completed by the fai
to one, three vigorous clappings Of ths
X hands all round signifies it
rs ready to he served. Strange q
|. say, the most punctilious etiquette
"a is observed in serving it, and 70
d the want Of which many an irreparabl
n offense, in the estimation OF the tru
i. Samoan, has been given. The honore
"a guest always receives the first bowl, and
- according 10 the dictation of an old CHIEF
10 the head Of the family or the master G
gs ceremonies. The nut brown maiden,
,e bfushing figure OF symmetrical physics
beauty, presides at the bowl, Phoeb
like dishing out the Samoan nectar
A custom most closely related to thi
80 peculiar habit, continued the doctor,
j, that of pai eating by the natives OF th
1t -.
!. strictly Hawaiian. he said. and Is cate
- by every man, woman and child, fror
= King kalakaua down. in those island
=, and forms the mainstay of life for Il
4, common people. The habit is 10 unive
- sally established that the native Hawaiian
~ are called and known by the name {
"Pai-eaters.n
- There grows in all the Pacific islands
= plant of the lily family. with large ric
=, leaves and straight, bulbous root, whic
is full OF farinaceous feed materia
which. together with bread fruit. form
the staple OF life with the Polynesian
taking the place of bread and potatoe
hs II is from this root that pai Is mad
hB Pal making is as much Of an institutio
10 and quite as great necessity in I'll
he Sandwich Islands rs bread making Is
'p' the United States.
en- The pai maker to his Majesty Kalakau
sls is regarded by him in favor next to h
OH chamberlain. and is pessonaRe niue
m envied. 1t is prepared fresh every da
ne by first roasting the taro roots, frol
ST. which it is made mashing and mixing
., with a proper quantity OF water, the
hd carefully strained 10 free it from Q
ais humps. after which II is set aside TO fe
ment. When fermentation advances
the proper degree II is ready to be sold
the consumer. Ii is now either whit
" pinkish or blue in color, according to Il
u kind of taro used in making. has the CO.
'ls sisteney of thick flour starch, looks iii
VI it, and, in fact. smells like it. 1t
served in Koawood bowls, high
i'a polished and Of different sizes. aeeordiI
- to the tastes and capacity Of the hapI
AA eater of pal.
The manner Of eating pal is not,
first, so distasteful TO the stranger
no kava drinking, but TO perfectly rein,
as taste, according to our acceptance of d
as word. the flrs: repast of raw fish whic
re is always eaten with pai Is not happi
- calculated 10 sharpen the appetite. II
~ haxvl of ..af Ia rlaraA in front ~ III