MORE ABOUT THE FIJIAN OF TO-DAY. 103 



way, and clapped their hands at the end of every stave. The 

 liquor being cleared, one of the men dipped a cocoa-nut cup 

 into the bowl, and presented it with bended knee to Cacobau, 

 who drank it off at a gulp. The cup was replenished, and 

 handed to the other chiefs present, until the great bowl was 

 quite empty. A cupful was offered to the Governor, but he 

 declined to drink. It was not in accordance Avith native 

 etiquette, we were told, to offer it to anyone else. Perhaps we 

 should have declined too had it been offered to us ; but pos- 

 sibly there were some amongst us who might have liked to 

 taste this native grog out of curiosity. It tastes, they say, like 

 soap-suds seasoned with pepper. The natives are very fond of 

 it, and even Englishmen get to like it, unpleasant though it 

 be at first. Constant indulgence in the use of it tends to para- 

 lyse the lower limbs. The ceremony over, we had luncheon, 

 and here it became evident that his cupful of native grog had 

 not quite satisfied Cacobau's appetite, so amazingly did he 

 polish off glass after glass of Bass's ale.' 



Kava has certainly an exhilarating effect, and has this pecu- 

 liarity over all other intoxicating drinks that I have ever heard 

 of it affects the legs first and head afterwards, the latter 

 rarely. I have seen a Fijian so affected by Jxtva, that he could 

 not stand at all, while at the same time he was disputing with 

 his master (a Taviuni planter) as to the current value of some 

 King William the Fourth shillings. 



The sale of alcoholic drink to the natives is forbidden by 

 Government ordinance, but if they can get hold of any, there 

 is no mistake about their delight 



The Fijian has a long memory, and bears a kindly recollec- 

 tion of those who treat him well, while his memory is just as 

 tenacious of the alleged evil deeds of his enemies. With him 



