l (l 



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 with the water ; when this was thoroughly done, he took 

 a large bunch of fibres of the bark of a tree called Fow (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 liquor, 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 Fow. All this 

 was done slowly, and with an air of ceremony. Small square 

 cups, which would contain ahout half a pint or less, made of 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 should 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-named places. When 

 the Kava was finished, the bowl was wiped with Fow, which was 

 frequently wrung. With it the young man wiped his hands and 

 arms, and then, having shaken it well, hung it up to dry, and 

 the bowl resumed its station against the pillar of the house. 

 There is a property in this vegetable, which, after frequent 



