or LA PEROUSE. lOJ 



out of cups made of cocoa-nut-flieHs, and 

 others out of thofc v^hich they made on the 

 fpot with phiiiUain leaves. 



The large roots with which they had jufl 

 made the kaza, had, in their k)ngitudinal direc- 

 tion, very fmall ligneous fibres^ which fettled to 

 the bottom of this beverage. The perfon who 

 diflribuLcd it, gathered them up with one of his 

 hands, and ufed it as a fpunge for filling the 

 cups. 



We were invited to partake of this drink ; 

 but to yield to the invitations of thefe good 

 people, it would have been neceifary not to 

 have ^tcn it prepared. However, the chaplain 

 of our fliip had the courage to fwallow a whole 

 cupful of it. Wifliing alfo to know the tafle 

 of this root, I preferred chewing a fmall piece 

 of it myfelf, which I found t-art and (limulant. 

 Every one of them then ate yams, frefh roafted 

 on the embers, and plantains, no doubt to allay 

 the heat that is felt in the flomach after having 

 drunk tliis intoxicating liquor. 



The inhabitants hold in great cfliniation the 

 pcpper-trec, IVom which it is obtained. Its 

 ftcm, which is often thicker than the thumb, 

 is pretty urai;;!^t, and iianv's wiiiiout lupport. 

 In the interval between the knors, tlicy cut fc- 

 veral pieces of it, which t'lev }:r^:'iented to us, 

 lignifving that tliey placed thtin in this man- 

 .1! 4 ner. 



