CHURCHILL— SAMOAN KAVA CUSTOM 



the eyes and a scaly affection of the skin. The indigenous authority 

 on medical questions is not competent and the missionary statements 

 are worthy of little more notice. We note that these conditions appear 

 quite as commonly among the women who use kava seldom if at all. 

 It is further said that when a large quantity of kava is taken at one 

 time it acts as an anaphrodisiac, produces a headache and causes 

 incapacity of locomotion. I have never observed any of these phe- 

 nomena and never have I discovered competent evidence that such 

 is the case. On all these accounts we are justified in absolving kava 

 from the moral obliquity of being an intoxicant. When one has 

 acquired the taste, for it does not appear to become in any sense an 

 addiction, kava is a most valuable refreshment after fatigue and an 

 agreeable appetizer. 



Our islanders have recognized the latter quality, for kava is always 

 introductory to food: either it is taken before the evening meal, the 

 principal meal of the day, or when served at other hours it is followed 

 by at least a snack (fono). In Tonga we find the word fuikava defined 

 by missionary authority as "food prepared to take off the effect of 

 drunkenness," a total misconception as to the purpose but satisfac- 

 tory evidence that food in some measure is expected to follow kava. 

 From my collection of kava songs out of Samoa I cull some few 

 references to the food which follows: 



Le alofi lo 'ua mama There is sitting of chiefs while kava is chewing, 



'a o ni a fono o lena 'ava? but what is the food for that kava? 



Tala mai le fa'aotaga Open up the bananas buried to ripen 



ma se afi tunu o le tai masa. and bundles of cooked things of the low tide. 



Pau la ia 'o fono o le 'ava. Let that be all of the food of the kava. 



And this from the Lay of Tupai, the attendant of Tuiatua: 



Ta 'ino'ino, ta te la fia inumia Pshaw, I do not wish to drink 



lena 'ava le saga, le fonotia. that kava undowered, with no gift of food. 



Here is richer detail from yet another kava lay: 



Se paga! le a 'o ni fono, Come now! What about the food, 



'a 'o le fa'asoasoa 'ua ma'e'a? the serving of the kava is finished? 



Ia o maia ni taulele'a Come hither, ye young men, 



i 'amia ni talo mai Leva, fetch taro from Leva, 



se fa'aotaga mai Ma'afana, buried bananas from Ma'afana, 



ma le 'ivi o Afamasaga and Afamasaga's tidbit from the backbone, 



ma ni afi fa and baked bundles of fish 



o le Tufa'asasa, of the Tufa'asasa, 



pau la ia fono o le 'ava. let that be all the food of the kava. 



[61] 



