6o8 Pomander Collection of Hawaiian Folk-lore. 



and leaves, and brought them to Ewa. Ewa said: "Let me first eat of this plant, and 

 should I die, do not plant it, for it would be valueless ; but should I not die, then we 

 will be rich." When Ewa ate it she became drunk and was intoxicated all day. 

 When she awoke she called the plant "awa" ; from thence forward this plant was called 

 awa, the awa of Kaumakaeha, the chief. 



There are many other places mentioned as to where awa came from. It is said 

 that birds brought it and planted it in the forests of Puna, Hawaii. Others say that a 

 son of Hiilei brought it. But this is what I have been told by friends as to the origin 

 of the awa. 



HOW IT IS PROPAGATED. 



It is said that the awa is propagated from the joints, that is, the branches ; it 

 is ])ressed down and weighted with a stone until the rootlets develop; then it is taken 

 to where it is desired to be planted. Again, when the awa roots are being dug up, 

 that is, when it is pulled, the branches are cho])ped up and thrown back into the holes 

 from which the roots have been taken, then covered over with soil, and when the 

 sprouts appear, called Nihopuaa,^ they are taken and planted. The method of plant- 

 ing that I have seen is the same as that followed in the planting of cane. 



NAMES OF VARIOUS AWA. 



Papa, Makca, Mokihana: these have white branches and large leaves. Should 

 the Pa]:)a be ]ilanted it would produce Papa and the root Moi; these have black skin on 

 their branches. There is also the awa root Hizva. These are the principal kinds that 

 I have learned of. 



VALUE OF AWA ROOT, THE PART FROM WHICH THE I'.RANCHES SPROUT. 



Awa was a valuable article in the olden time ; a great deal of it was bought by 

 the people for drinking and for medicinal purposes. This is what is done if for a 

 sick person: it is used as a medicine together with a black pig for its. accompaniment. 

 Awa is chewed and placed in a container, and when there is sufficient it is mixed and 

 strained and poured into the cups; then the priest^ prays to the guardian spirit, sprink- 

 ling some awa for them. Then drink of the awa, and eat of the fat pig. This will 

 cause one to see things hazily" at night, and to sleep heavilv during the day. So it 

 is with those who are possessed by the gods. When the god comes on a visit and sits' 

 on one, awa is quickly gotten ready for the deity; it is hastily chewed, prepared and 

 drank uj). And every time the god \'isits the same process is gone through until 

 one gets inflamed; and when you see some one blear-eyed it reminds you of the fol- 

 lowing saying: "Inflamed! Inflamed! First go down to Piheka. \Miat food will you 

 have to eat? Awa." 



Again, if you have sinned against your guardian spirit, with the root of the 



'Nihopuaa, lit., hog'.s tusk, probably from a resem- "Drunk with awa. 



blance in the sprouts. -i[y^\^ is the Akua noho of the sorcerer. 



"This relates one of the ceremonies of a sorcerer- 

 priest. 



