NOTES ON THE TANNESE. 6fil 



2. Kava. — TIip plant, so far as I knrrsrjs tlie onft well known. 

 Only the root part is used. I have seen a kava root. — 

 that is, the whole hunch plucked up — which would be a o-ood 

 lift for four men. It is an article of g-reat value here. About 

 an hour before sunset preparations are made to get the kava 

 ready. The root of kava is divided into pieces about the size 

 of a large mutton chop. Each man takes a jiiece and care- 

 fully brushes off all earth sticking to the root ; then each 

 man chews his share until it is completely saturated with 

 saliva, and the fibres severed. This is put into a small wooden 

 trough. A virgin boy (the hands of a married man are 

 regarded as perpetually unclean, and no female must see a 

 man drinking his kava) pours water over the mass, and mixes 

 all with his hand, squeezing it through his fingers for a time. 

 Then he dips into the liquid a bunch of fibre such as is used 

 for making cordage. This soaks up the liquid, which is wrung 

 into a cup made with fresh banana leaf. This cup is made 

 by gathering the sides into both hands just as one would 

 make a pouch with a handkerchief. As there are still some 

 filjres in the liquid, these are got rid of by drinking it through 

 a tube, made of the new unrolled banana leaf, just as boys 

 drink through a straw. A person drinks about two cujifuls 

 (20 oz.) at a time. The first washing of the mare in one 

 trough will give three such drinks. Water is again added 

 and enough made for three more men. When this liquid is 

 exhausted, the dry powdery marc is thrown out, the trough 

 put in the house, and the bundle of fibre hung up to dry. 

 Each individual, Avhen drinking, stands a little apart and yells. 

 Each man has his own peculiar shout. A chief hei'e has 

 taken to imitating the whistle of the A.U.S.N. Company's 

 steamer " Truganini." Then each man sits down to eat his 

 evening meal. The Tannese like to drink their kava just as 

 the sun sinks out of sight. After the kava has been drunk, 

 all conversation ceases on the part of the drinkers. Those 

 who have not taken any, speak to one another in whispers 

 and laugh, often at the antics of the " drunks," under their 

 breath. Women are excluded from the public square. The 

 pnngent taste and stringent effect of the kava cause incessant 

 spitting for the first hour after drinking it. A man will sit 

 on a log with a large }iudding in his hand, staring into vacancy, 

 slowly striving to eat an enormous mouthful of food. He 

 will give two chews and then pause, much as a horse will 

 cease eating to listen. Then he goes at it again — two chews 

 and a pause. At last the whole goes down with a gulp, and 



