BY N. DE MIKLOUUO-MACLAY. bOy 



by liim, the fact that there are on the Maclay-Coast other kinds 

 of Piper, allied to P. methysticum, remains, I think proved. (1.) 



As the mode of preparation of the " Keu-beverage " is somewhat 

 different fi'om that of the " Kava" or " Ava" of the Polynesians, 

 which operation has been described more than once by travellers (2) 

 it appears to me that a short account of the way in which the "Keu " 

 is prepared by the natives of the Maclay-Coast, is here not out 

 of place. 



The "Keu " plant is used not only in its fresh state, but often 

 after it has been kept for weeks and months ; leaves, branches, 

 stem and roots are chewed. In case the latter are too hard and 

 large, they are split and beaten with astone before chewing. Portions 

 of leaves, of broken b ranches, chips of stem and roots are distri- 

 buted, amongstboys and young men, who, with their strong healthy 

 teeth, soon reduce them to a soft greenish pulp, which is more or 



(1) I shall mention but a few of them. In W. Mariner's account of the 

 Tonga Islands [An account of the natives of the Tonga Islands from com- 

 munications ot Mr. W. Mariner, by John Martin. Second edition, 

 London, 1818, Vol. II., pp. 173-176] thei-e is a very complete description of 

 the preparation of the "Kava," with all the ceremonies connected with 

 the drinking of it, at the Tonga Island, at the beginning of this century. 

 Capt. J. E. Erskine, R.N., (Journal of a Cruise among the Islands of the 

 Western Pacific. London, 1S53, p. 49) gives also an account about the cere- 

 mony of the " Ava " drinking at Samoa. Of course, in each book about the 

 South Sea Islands, in each account of travels on the Islands of the Pacific, 

 there are more or less complete descriptions of the preparations, drinking 

 and effects of this peculiar bevei-age. These descriptions show that different 

 modifications in the use of the "Kava" in the same place have gradually 

 taken place, which however can be explained by the fact that the use of this 

 beverage is generally disappearing with the advance of missionaries, white 

 traders and settlers, and the introduction of spirits. 



(2) I wrote to Baron F. von Mueller about the discovery of Dr. SchefFer's 

 note and received a few days ago his answer. The portion of the Baron'a 

 letter, referring to the distribution of Piperaceai, runs (translated from the 

 German) as follows : — " I wish to remai-k, that Casimiz de CandoUe, in his 

 " new work on the Piperacece, does not mention any other species of the 

 *' genus Piper from New Guinea, but Piper methysticum ; Piper Rumpfii is 

 "nearly allied to P. methysticum, but is only known at Ternate. We 

 " know as well described not more than 5 Piperacete from New Guinea ; 

 " but as about 70 species have been fountbin the Sunda-Island, it is to be 

 " expected" that numerous species will be collected by and by in New 

 "Guinea. In fact I have already several in my collections, but the 

 "specimens are very fragmentary, so that nothing or very little can be 

 "done with them. Beccari's Piperacete remain still unpublislied; it is 

 ' ' possible, however, that he has collected only a few of tliem. " 



