Evening star., 1898-01-04
At q Hawaiian Dinner,

At Hawaiian Dinner.
While in Hawaii Mr.. Churchill met Sena-
tors Pettigrew and Dubois. He took din
ner with them in Hilo. and tells an anus
Ing story of the affair. With him was Mrs.
Churchill and two Hawaiian young ladies
VINO spoke English were introduced to the
two senators, and occupied seats next them
at the table. The piece de resistance of the
clnner, as Is generally the case in Hawaii.
consisted of poi, which is the national dish
there. Poi Is a sort of pinkish paste made
from plant, and tastes to a person ac-
customed to it. Mr.. Churchill states, much
as buckwheat batter would probably taste
II tried.
The dish Is designated according to its
thickness by one-fnger, two-hnger and
three-hnger poi. The thicker it is, the less
fingers are required with which to scoop it
out of the pot. The efforts of Senators
Pettiglew and Dubois to get the poi on a
fork were very amusing until they were
shown how to manipulate the stuff. They
did not like 1t, however. The next dish con-
sisted Of live small fish handed about in
bowls. Those who knew what was the
proper thing under the circumstances, SIM
ply lifted the fish, still alive, out of the
bowls by their tails and ate them.
The two senatorial representatives were
not pleased with this part of the bill of
fare, nor with the next, which consisted of
raw shrimps. Then came a dish, cooked,
which appeared, and tasted, most succu-
lent Inc general opinion was LQat II was
some sort of rabbit. AS matter of fact,
it was puppy, and when Mr.. Churchill an
nounced this to be the case 1t came near
breaking up the party. Mr.. Churchill had
attended Hawaiian dinner parties before.
The National Drink of Samoa.
THE national drink of Samoa, in fact of
all Polynesia" Mr.. Churchill said, lis what
is known as kava. This is made by girls
chewing the roots of the big pepper plant,
and the guilds are then placed in water.
The kavs comes from this. 1t is a mild
drink, and intoxicates only after two or
three quarts of it have been consumed.
Its effects are most peculiar. The effects
are felt only from the hips down. A person
who is unda- its influence can look with a
conscienec-strickea heart on drunken
pair of legs, which have absolutely gone
Great remOrse is experienced at the same
time, but fortunately this passes away with
the jag and no bad results follow.
The kava is held in large bowls, and all
the chiefs have what are known as cup
names. These are, used only when the
kava is being drunk. 1t is sort of an
alias club
MementO of n Warlike King.
Mr.. Churchill is recognized as one of the
most eminent of Polynesian archaeologists.
He has spent much time among the is
lands of that group. besides the time when
he was consul general at Apia, and has
made a large collection not only of eth
biological objects, but of Samoan folk lore
stories. He brought back with him for
the National Museum an interesting relic
presented him by Malietoa Laupepa. King
of Samoa. 1t is war club, which has
been in the possession of the royal family
of Samoa for twenty-nine generations. 1t
is of iron-wood. unusually finely carved
with the sharks tooth, which is used In
such cases. The club is about three feet
in length. heavy, and unusual interest at
taches to it, in one respect. One of the
points has been broken off, and this is
said to have occurred at the killing of a
high priest, who met death at the hands
of one of the kings. The latter was a
powerful monarch, physically. and when
he welded the weapon on the head of the
unfortunate victim the skull was shat
tered as if it had been an egg shell and the
club struck stone, breaking the point.
The ex-consul general reported to the
State Department late yesterday afternoon
He said that he had some news of more
than ordinary political interest to trans
nit to the department.. He will remain
in Washington about a week.