Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1894-08-24

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 a bowl More root
is put into the mouth and the liquid
disposed Of in the same way. 1t has be-
come a 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 kaya here
and kaya there and kava everywhere.
And 1t is cleaner than most OF tho
drinks Of other countries and has in it
no logwood, strychnine or nux vomica,
but pure and simple expectoration.
Iconsider it as an improvement on
most strong drinks. 1t 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 1t, believing all
they said about the pungent and CRATE
ful 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
a high pollsi- Not only is tho cup
enameled, but the stomach OF the one
who takes it becomes also an enamoling
so elaborate that l am informed that
ono who was in such condition, by
sneezing violently, cracked the enamel
and died. Instead Of the burning out Of
the yitals by the brandy and whisky
and wines would it not be more aesthetic
to carry around a whole art gallery ot
enameled insideS3
Tell all the MethOdists that MaiioF0a
ia \ Wesleyan and 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 1t 50 well 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 be better
symboliEed By a dove rather than a
chanticleer. As in America we never
had but one man who declined beinl
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 again he
preferred another for the throne and
accented 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 waFs have
been good members Of Presbyterian or
Episcopalian OF Methodist or Baptist or
Congregational or Catholic church.
Do not, therefore, sneer when l write
that Malietoa is a Wesleyan. The flag
that floats over his house is one starred
flag contriyed by a missionary Indeed
the good work Of the missionaries IS
found wherever we go on this island.
The Bible is the chief book. There are
churches and schools One Of the group
of islands has a college Of 80 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
combers, as they are called at Samoa
that is, the men who combine the
work Of wrecker, pirate, thief, despera-
do and agent for the slums-are found
here, but every city that know OF has
its beach combers, and the poor swindlod
immigrants find them more numerous
at Boston, New York and Liverpool
than the voyagers 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 at night
on Sabbath the whole town, with few
exceptions, is given up to devotion.
At half past 6 on Sabbath morning
the church bells ring, and the people
put on their best attire and assemble for
worship. Again, IN 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 to home and
from mountain to beach. There is far
more Sabbath kept in Samoa than IN
any town or city in America Of tie
same SIZE but this was not always so.
From what cruelty Christian civiliza-
ton has lifted It! In olden times, when
they conquered an enemy, they broke
his spine To add 10 the humiliation oi
the defeated some Of them were roasted
and eaten. When woman VA csndi-
date for marriage to some chief, she
was seated In the market place Tor the
public to decide whether she were tit
for such marriage. II they decided IN
the negative, she was clubbsd to death.
They worshiped the dog, or the eel
or the turtle, or the lizard, or the shark.
"BackP cried the Christian religion to
such monstrositieS Of behavior, and all
things changed.
The Samoans have not much use for
clothea saw no fashion plates IN the
windova A tailor would stsrve to
death In Samoa. Lack Of complete
physical investure comes not from un-
due economy, not from pauperism, not
from immortality, but originally from
the fact that on these islands the climate
is so mild the year round that necessity
docs not make inexorable demand upon
weavers and olothiers.
But gradually calicoes and nankeens
and alpacas are coming into demand.
The Samoan somewhat substitutes tat
tooing, which in some cases appears
quite like a suit Of clothes. In the boat
crossing from wharf to steamer put
my hand on the knee Of a Samoan and
said, You are tattooed. " he replied,
'Yes; that me clothes" l said, "When
do you have that tattooing done| He
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