TONGATABTJ. 125 



At about three miles from the royal village is to be found 

 a shallow piece of water, but just deep enough for very 

 small canoes holding a couple of persons, and thither I 

 went to have some duck shooting, which affords capital 

 sport here. This lake, the water of which is brackish, 

 is bordered with bushy mangrove trees, into which the 

 wounded birds escape when they do not choose to do so by 

 diving. I saw a quantity of ducks and killed some, besides 

 an owl and a heron. In this excursion I saw several 

 fields of kava very strong and vigorous. This plant plays 

 so important a part on occasions of great public ceremonies, 

 that I am tempted to give an account of the curious pro- 

 cesses of preparation and distribution as I find them de- 

 scribed by the Eev. Mr. Williams in liis account of the Fiji 

 Islands and their inhabitants,^ and by Mariner, whose account 

 of them Mr. Williams cites as being one of the most accu- 

 rate that has yet appeared : — 



' More form attends the use of this narcotic in Somosomo 

 than elsewhere. Early in the morning the king's herald 

 stands in front of the royal abode, and shouts at the top of 

 his voice, " Yaqona! " Hereupon, all within hearing respond, 

 in a sort of scream, " Mama " — " Chew it ! " At this signal 

 the chiefs, priests, and leading men gather round the well- 

 known bowl and talk over public affairs, or state the work 

 assigned for the day, while their favourite draught is being 

 prepared. When the young men have finished the chewing, 

 each deposits his portion, in the form of a round dry ball, 



' ' Fiji and tlie Fijians,' vol. i. p. 141. 



