﻿86 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS [VOL. \J 



of the kava preparation. The resin and the kavahin are insoluble in 

 water, but are soluble in saliva and the gastric juices. 



There are many accounts of kava drinking in the literature of 

 Polynesia, — Cook, Ellis, Mariner, and Turner being among those 

 who describe the practice in different islands. The author takes 

 pleasure in acknowledging the use of notes on the Samoan custom, 

 made in 1889 by Lieut. T. Dix Bolles, U. S. N. 



In Samoa, the ava root is grated or chewed, then soaked, the 

 woody pulp strained off, and the fluid drunk. The root is used either 

 green or dry. The flavor of the liquid is at first like that of soapsuds, 

 but immediately afterward a pleasant aromatic taste is imparted, 

 faintly bitter, as in quinine. In Samoa, ava drinking is the accom- 

 paniment of all meetings of the men. 



Formerly the root was chewed, but as that destroyed the teeth after 

 a time, it is now generally grated. At councils the making is quite 

 ceremonious and proceeds as follows : The host sends a young man 

 for some fresh, dry ava, which is thrown into the semicircle of men 

 and is examined, commented on, and finally tossed back to be 

 cleaned of its bark. The host's daughter, the maid of the village, 

 is called in and seats herself before the men ; a hugh ava bowl 

 is brought forward, together with several cocoanut shells full of 

 water. The bowl and cup are washed ; the fan, or whisk, to be used 

 is wet and switched until dry ; the maid's hands and wrists are bathed ; 

 and if the root is to be chewed, the mouths of the chewers are thor- 

 oughly rinsed. The quid is increased in size till the mouth will hold 

 no more and is then deposited in the bowl, and so on until there is 

 enough to make a drink for each of those present. 



If, however, the root is to be grated, a tin grater is laid across 

 the bowl, and the maid, sounding a musical rhythm, rubs until 

 enough is procured. The remaining fragment of the root is thrown 

 aside and a second maid or young woman pours into the bowl the 

 proper allowance of water. The contents are then stirred by the maid 

 and in a few moments the fan is bunched, dropped into the bowl, and 

 'i\ dexterous manipulation the pulp is caught, and the fan is wrung 

 out and shaken by the assistants. This is repeated until the ava is 

 free from pulp, when all clap their hands, saying, " The ava is 

 read}-; the bowl is prepared." 



The drinking-bowl, usually a large half-cocoanut shell, is then 

 presented, by an attendant, to the maid, who fills it. The master 

 of ceremonies, familiar with those present, calls the name of the 

 senior chief, who answers by a word, or by clapping his hands, that 

 the attendant may know to whom to present the bowl. This is done 



