160 
Taking the Ceremonial Drink. 
our belongings that raised a hearty laugh among the others: the drink- 
ing cups that were continually going the round, naturally enlivened the 
conversation more and more. 
öOb. That the Master of the Ceremonies was to have a gala day of 
it, was indicated by his wealth of decoration. Shortly before sundown 
be seized tue huge bainbu round which long strings threaded with 
Thvoctia seeds had been wound, and with it gave tne signal to begin the 
dance, whereupon every jack man jumped out of his hammock and they 
all arranged themselves in a half circle around and at a little distance 
away from the huge paiwari- trough. This, together with the house 
was lighted up by several torches manufactured from thick cotton 
strands repeatedly dipped in melted wax and rolled. The M.O. now 
sauntered with a stoop round and round the trough, at the conclusion 
of each circuit taking two steps towards it, and then again one step 
hack — a movement that was imitated by the whole column, each man 
having the left hand resting on the right shoulder of his neighbour, and 
except that, instead of a stoop, their position was upright. This slow 
and measured circling and posing was regulated by the beat of a monot- 
onous song: T could unfortunately obtain no explanation of the mean- 
ing of the words that formed its foundation, because the present-day 
Waikas no longer understand them themselves. The words of the song 
are handed down from father to son but the language seems to have 
changed in the course of time, because the Present has indeed preserved 
the form, the phrasing of the expressions and the words, but not their 
meaning. The M.O. every time sang a few words beforehand which 
the chorus repeated, and this was effected with such precision and ac- 
curacy that one thought one heard but a single voice. Among the women, 
only the chiefs wife and an old granny, who was apparently the oldest 
member of the whole company, took part in the song. 
559. After the procession had sauntered round the trough several 
times, the M.C. stopped short, the dancers drew fresh breath and let out 
a frightful yell. The women and girls hurried now with the empty 
calabashes to the trough, filled them full, handed them to the men and 
satisfied every one whose eye beckoned for refreshment, when the column 
again set itself in motion, but to the accompaniment of a fresh equally 
unintelligible song in another beat. During the pauses those who were 
tired dropped out of the ranks, fresh dancers stepping into their places. 
Indeed, the more the dancers drank, the oftener were the pauses repeat- 
ed, the more irregular the movements, and the noisier the song, which 
finally degenerated into a wild roar. Owing to my little gifts I had un- 
fortunately completely won the favours of both the beautiful twin-sis- 
ters who now wanted to show their appreciation by frequently toasting 
me with the drinking cup. As the refusal of a drink is considered a 
wilful sign of contempt and would have engendered indelible mistrust, 
and bitter hatred in the hearts of both beautiful girls as» well as their* 
father, I found myself forced to make at least an appearance of swallow- 
ing the stuff. Rut what are our notorious drinking-bouts as compared 
with such a feast of these savages! I saw men emptying at one draught 
calabashes that certainly contained two to three quarts, hurry off to a 
