The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1897-11-11
A VISIT TO SAMOA.
NOTES ABOUT THE PEOPLE.
Queer Customs.
Correspondence to TIE COMMONWEALTH.


HONOLULU, Oct. 21, 1897.
On one occasion not long ago I had
the chance to visit this island. / did
not go officially. l simply went to see
the country and bv chance 1 had the
pleasure of meeting the Chief and had
an invitation to call on him when it
was convenient. l thanked him and
said would cali on him the next day
at 3 p. m, if agreeable. So the next
morning l arose early and ate my
breakfast and fixed up myself to call
on the Chief of the island. l felt as
though we're going to visit the Gov
erlior of North Carolina or some great
% man whom I had never seen before.
At 3 p. m. I called at his residence and
rang the gong and ina few minutes a
woman met me and asked whom L want
ed to see. I told her I wished to see
the Chief. She asked me in and said
that the Chief would be in soon.
She was beautiful girl, but her skin
was the color IF an Indian woman. l
went into the Chiefs office and took a
seat. In few minutes the Chief came
| in and babe me good morning. He
was pleasant looking old gentleman
and treated me very nicely. There was
nothing too good for me while in the
house. We had wine and cake, then
after that, we had some of the best ci-
gars I ever smoked. They were native
made. When specially invited guests
are entertained by a Samoan Chief,
there is great display of flowers, fruits,
&c.
They remind me OF the Siamese for
there is no difference in their color, but
there ls a difference In their mode of
living, and their habits are different.
Some of them are very intelligent and
can speak the English language very
we'll. There is one strange custom they
have, which no other nation has and
that is the custom of what the natives
term "to perform the sacred ceremony"
chewing the kava and offering the
liquid to the guest of honor. When
the party is seated In the Chiefs abode,
three or four of the prettlest girls in
the village are called into the room and
seated tallor-fashion in half circle fac
ing the one who is being entertained.
All being ready, the Chief hands each
one of the girls a quantity OF the kava
nuts-a product of the island, much re-
sembling the betel nut. The girls then
commence to chew them. This opera
ton is repeated again and again until
a sufficient quantity of the kava has
been chewed. Then water is brought
IN and the juice diluted until it suits
the fancy OF the Chief.
Only unmarried women are permit
ted to chew the kava nut. The Sa-
moan belief is, that unless mastlcated
by virgins, the kava lOOses Its best
qualities. Alter the liquid is ready for
use the Chief takes up a sufficient
quantity In a cocoanutrshell cup and
hands it to the guest. Woe, be to any
one who refuses 1t for this is the most
serious breach of etiquette that can
happen in Samoan household, and
should the cup not be drained to the
last drop when you return it, they
will not like you any longer.
They are very gentle and pleasant
looking people. The effects OF the ka-
va Is as queer as the method OF prepar-
ing it. The first drink produces no ef-
feet. but the second and third, puts
quite change on one. The liquid is
drank while sitting tailor-fashion,
something like the japanese sit on
their little mats, and after you
drink the third cup, if you havn't
very strong constitution, you will lind
it almost impossible to get upon your
feet. The brain If as clear as though
the LIQUID had been clear or pure wa
ter. but from the waist down, the body
seems to be paralyzed and the guest
must sit and wait for the effects 70
wear away unless helped into some 9th
or posture.
| The girls who chew this kava are not
in any way Inconvenience by it, because
thew do not swallow the juice and they
often appear to enjoy the predicamen'
of those who try valnly to get up or
their feet. The liquid tastes and looks
like nutmeg water, though the flavor
of soap is often detected by those wht
, nartake of it for the first time. Their
, are but few white people that 1--we OF
: this island. It is great trading por
and the chief product Of the island Il
fruit. y. :. CohhiI'
FOR OVER FIFTY YEARS
Mrs. Winslow's Soothing Syrup ha