Democratic messenger., 1894-08-25

kava hy the following process: They
take the roat and chew II 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 III the same way. 1t has be-
come a popular drink. II is ordered on
all occasions-:;t the opening and clos
ing of all SocialiticS, before and after
all styles of business. 1t is kava here
and kava there and kava everywhere.
And it Is cleaner than most Of the
drinks of other countries and has in it
no logwood. s;ryclninc or nux vomica.
but pure and simple cXpcctoration.
consider IL as an Improvement on
most strong drinks IL is said to be-
most delicious drunk. Almost all visit
orS try this kava and see what il tastes
like and what are its effects, but as |
have great faith i'll the testimony of
others | did not taste il, believing all
they said about the pungcnt and CRATE
full flavor of this beverage of refined
and dclectatcd spit. The kava not only
appeals to the taste, but il Is said to
bcautify the cup or bowl from which it
is qua;led. The bowl is not washed, but
retains the settings of this beverage,
which harden and come to look like
exquisite cnamcling. which submits to
high polish. Not only is the cup
enamcled, but the stomach of the one
who takes il becomes also an cnamcling
so elaborate that l am informed that
one who was i'll such condition, by
snecZing violently, cracked the enamel
and died. Instead of the burning out of
the vi;als by the brandy and whisky
and wines would it not be more aesthetic
to carry around whole art gallery of
enanelcd insidcs:
Tell all the MethOdists that Malietoa
is Wesleyan and a consistent follower
of the three worthless of Epworth-Su-
sannah. Charles and John. Though his
every drop of inherited blood is war
like, this king is 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 cheercd the Samoan king.
shouting. We'll done, Fighting Cock.
But the present king might be better
symboliZcd by dove rather than a
chan;iclccr. AS i'll America we never
had but one man who declined being
president of the United States when l:e
knew that he could get the Office, So
Malictoa is the only man that know
of who declined TO be king when the
honor fell to him. Again and again he
preferred another for the throne and
accepted royalty only when circum-
stances compelled him to do So There
have been deeds of blood since he took
the scepter. but war is barbarism
whether under Samoan or American
or English flag. Nearly all the great
generals of our American wars have
been good members of Presbyterian OF
Episcopalian or Methodist or Baptist or
Congregational or Catholic church.
Do not, therefore. snccr when write
that Malietoa is Wesleyan. The flag
that floats over his house is u one starred
flag contrivcd by missionary. Indeed
the good work of the missionaries is
found wherever we go OH this island.
The Bible is the chief book. There are
churches and schools. One of the group
of islands has "a college of 55 students
in preparation for the ministry. Nearly
all the inhabitants Of these islands can
read and write. There are no doubt
enough bad people. Three ships Of war
lying for the most time in the harbor
keep the natives familiar with the vices
of more civilized nations. The beach
combcrs," as they are called at Samoa
that is, the men who combine the
work of wrecker. pirate, thief, dcspera-
do and agent for the slums-arc found
here. but every city that know of has
its beach combers, and the poor swindled
immigrants find them more numerous
at Boston, New York and Liverpool
than the yoyagcrs Of the Pacific find
them at Samoa. These islands are more
thorough Sabbath keepers than you will
find in almost any land of all the earth.
From early morning until late ut night
on Sabbath the whole town. with few
exceptions. is given up to devotion.
AT half past q ON Sabbath morning
the church bells ring, and the people
put on their best attire and assemble for
worship. Again, i'll midafternoon. the
church bells ring. and the people gather.
Far on into the Sunday night the Chris
tian songs may be heard, caught up and
sounded back from home tn home and
from mountain to beach. There is far
more Sabbath kept i'll Samoa than in
any town or city i'll America of the
same size but this was not always So
From what cruelty Christian civiliZa-
tion has lifted it! In olden times. when
they conquered an enemy. they broke
his spine To add To the humiliation of
the defeated some of them We're roasted
and eaten. When woman was candi
date for marriage to some chief, she
was seated i'll the market place for the
public to decide whether she Were fit
for such marriage. If they decided in
the negative, she was dubbed to death.
They worshiped the dog. or the eel,
or the turtle. or the lizard, or the shark.
Back" cried the Christian religion To
such monstrositicS of behavior. and all
things changed.
The Samoans have not much use for
clothes. ! saw no fashion plates i'll the
windows. \ tailor would starvc To
death in Samoa Lack of complete
DlNSlCiI liNtStuEt NOlIltS IlOl lIOIu Nll-
due economy. not from paupcrism, not
from immortality. but originally from
the fact that on these islands the climate
is 50 mild the year round that necessity
does not make incxorahlc demand up"n
wcavcrs and clothiers.
But gradually calicoes and narkccns
and alpacas are coming into demand.
The Samoan sumew hat substitutes tat
tooing, which III some eases appears
quite like Il suit of clothc>. In the buat
crossing from wharf tn steamer | pat
my hand on tne Li:,c Of Samoan aud
said. You are tattooesi. a." Tie replied,
Highest of all in Lcavening Po