The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1894-08-31

dQur6SS rev
MALIEToA. evenings ago
concerning the islands of the Pacific,
declared that the only movement toward
civilization that amounted to anything
in these islands had been made by the
church; gospel, not gunpowder; life,
not death; bibles, not bullets.
The only movement that at this time
has full swing in Samoa is "trade gin
That maddens and imbrutes and has
given to Samoa the unsavory and I'M
Just title of the ''hell of the Pacific.
The foreign gin is helped in its work
by domestic drink called "kava." 1t
is prepared in the following delicious
way: There is plant called Piper me-
thisticum, from the root of which the
kava is made. Ayoung Samoan woman
moved to one Of the Fiji islands, but
got tired and resolved to return to her
native islands. Before starting home
ward she saw rat, which seemed weak
and thin, eat the root of this plant,
when the rat Immediately became strong
and vigorous, and she concluded that
tuO DCou tlAuk HIlO Couitl w lOi IlCl
tive land was to take this root to he'
people that it might make them strong
and vigorous too. As the root of it
made the rat strong and vigorous, why
not the came result be produced in the
human race? So she cultivated in Sa-
moa the Piper methisticum, from which
the kava is made. Girls and old men
who have nothing else to do prepare this
kava by the following process: They
take the root and chew it until the juice
fills their mouth; then they discharge it
from the mouth into bowl More root
Is put into the mouth and the liquid
disposed of in the same way. 1t has be-
come popular drink. 1t is ordered on
all occasions-at the opening and clos
ing of all socialities, before and after
all styles of business. 1t is kava here
and kava there and kava everywhere.
Ard it is cleaner than most of the
drinks of other countries and has in it
no logwood, strychnine or nux yomica,
but pure and simple expectoration.
consider it as an improvement on
most strong drinks. It is said to be
most delicious drunk. Almost all visit
ors try this kava and see what it tastes
like and what are its effects, but as l
have great faith in the testimony of
others | did not taste it, believing all
they said about the pungent and grate-l
full flavor Of this beverage of refined
and delectated spit. The kava not only
appeals to the taste, but it is said to
beautify the cup or bowl from which it
is quaffed. The bowl is not washed, but
retains the settings of this beverage,
which harden and come to look like
exquisite enameling, which submits to
high polish. Not only is the cup
enameled, but the stomach of the one
who takes it becomes also an enameling
SO elaborate that l am informed that
| one who was in such condition, by
sneezing violently, cracl,ed the enamel
and died. Instead of the burning out of
the vitals by the brandy and whisky
and wines would it not be more aesthetic
to carry around whole art gallery Of
enameled insides?
Tell all the Methodists that Malietoa
is Wesleyan and a consistent follower
of the three worthless of Epworth-Su-
sanuah, Charles and John. Though his
| every drop of inherited blood is war
like, this king is a man Of peace. One
| of his ancestors fought back an enemy
from Samoa and did it so we'll that the
defeated troops as they got back into
their boats cheered the Samoan king,
shouting, well done, Fighting Cock. )"
| But the present king might DO better
symbolized by dove rather than a
chanticleer. AS in America we never
had but one man who declined being
president of the United States when he
knew that he could get the office, SO
Malietoa is the only man that l know
of who declined to be king when the
honor fell to him. Again and a;Jain he
preferred another for the throne aud
acce. ,sed royalty only when circuln-
stances compelled him to do SO. Th' re
have been deeds OF blood since he took
the scepter. but war is b,srbarism
whether under Samoan or American
or English flag. Nearly all the great
generals of our American wars have
been good members of Presbyterian or
Episcopalian or Methodist or Baptist or
Congregational or Catholic church.
Do not, therefore, sneer when l write
that Malietoa is Wesleyan. The flag
that floats over his house is one starred
flag contrived by a missionary. Indeed