40 
near enough flung in what they had chewed, and those who sat 
farther off put their morsels into small dishes made of Banana 
leaves, which were handed round to receive them, and their con¬ 
tents being all collected in the bowl, water was brought in cala¬ 
bashes, about six in number, containing together about two 
gallons, or perhaps more. The water being poured into the bowl, 
the young man with his hands commenced mixing the masticated 
mash udth the water; when this was thoroughly done, lie took 
a large bunch of fibres of the bark of a tree called bow (a 
Hibiscus^), resembling coarse tow; this he spread with both 
his hands along the margin of the bowl opposite to him, and 
drew it through the Ikpior, which had the effect of straining it> 
bringing away all broken fibres and pieces of the root, these 
being retained in the Fow, which was well wrung over the bowl, 
and the process was repeated until the liquor was free from frag¬ 
ments, which were all retained in the centre of the 1 ow. All this 
was done slowly, and with an air of ceremony. Small square 
cups, wFich would contain about half a pint or less, made ot the 
leaf of the Banana, were then produced, and the Fow being filled 
with Kava from the bowl, over which the cup is held, the liquor 
ran from it into the vessel. The first dish was brought to me. 
Etiquette, of which I was ignorant, requires that it shguld be 
drunk off, and the cup thrown into the centre of the room. I 
tasted it, and handed the cup to Tue Tonga, who immediately 
sent it to be filled up, as if that which I had taken had dimi¬ 
nished the quantity: he then drank it off, and threw the cup 
towards the bowl. Others were served, a person calling out 
to whom it was to be carried; otherwise, the whole was 
performed in silence. Each, as he drank off his cup, threw it 
into the middle of the floor, towards the bowl; they were all 
served sitting. There is, I believe, in all things respecting 
Kava, as much etiquette as in any ceremonies in the stiffest 
court in Europe; and we, who do not know and follow 
them, are by these people considered as deficient in politeness 
and refinement as they would be at London or Paris in the 
best societies. This, however, is to be said, that in decency 
and propriety of manners, if not to say elegance, some of 
these natives would set an example which might be followed 
with advantage by many at the above-narned places. When 
the Kava was finished, the bowl was wiped with T ow, which was 
frequently wrung. With it the young man wiped his hands an 
arms, and then, having shaken it well, hung it up to dry, an 
the bowl resumed its station against the pillar of the house. 
There is a property in this vegetable, which, after frequen 
