690 NOTE ON THE " KEU " OF THE MACLAY-COAST, NEW GUINEA, 



less saturated with saliva. In the meantime one of the old men 

 has already made the necessary arrangement for filtering the 

 "Keu" drink. Two large "gambas,"(l) specially kept for this 

 purpose, are used. The upper with a hole in the centre serves as a 

 funnel, the lower and larger as a reservoir. The hole on the 

 bottom of the funnel is covered with a layer of young " unan " 

 (a species of Imperata) which has been made soft by rubbing. 

 Having rinsed his hands the old man, remaining seated behind his 

 " gambas," collects the balls (remarkably large) of masticated 

 " Keu," which are presented to him by the young people, who 

 pass before him in a procession. Sometimes the ball is 

 presented, not on the palm of the hand as usual, but on the out- 

 stretched tongue of the chewer. 



The balls are deposited by the operator on the bottom of the 

 upper " gamba," which serves for the funnel, a little water is 

 added and the filtration helped by stirring. After a while, when the 

 greater part of the fluid has been filtered through the *' unan," 

 the remaining masticated " Keu " is carefully lifted out of the 

 funnel in the shape of a big ball, and more water poured on it. 

 The ball is compressed with both hands, the greenish infusion 

 draining between the fingers of the operator and running through 

 the funnel into the reservoir. Still more water is poured on the 

 kneaded ball until the paler colour of the infusion shows that this 

 part of the operation is at an end. The empty funnel is lifted 

 and put aside. The reservoir is nearly filled with a dirty-greenish 

 looking fluid of the consistence of a not very thick syrup. Some- 

 times a little more water is added and the " K6u " stirred 

 thoroughly. 



The " Keu" is drunk soon after it is made, so that in such a short 

 time no fermentation could be produced by the saliva contained in 



(1) The name " gamba " in the dialect of Bongu is given to the shell of 

 the cocoanut, which is split horizontally. A short but strong stroke, with 

 an elongated stone (especially kept for that purpose) given by an 

 experienced hand, splits the nut horizontally, leaving a level border. 

 According to the purpose of the " gamba-makcr," the nut can be split in the 

 middle or higher up, and accordingly the " gamba " can be made flat or 

 deep. "Gambas " are used by natives as dishes, plates, etc., etc. 



