230 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
macerated in water^ and already in a state of fermenta- 
tion^ was then put into the hollow stone^ and covered 
with the unwieldy cap. The fire was kindled under¬ 
neath I a hole was made in the wooden cap of the stilly 
into which a long^ small^ bamboo cane, placed in a 
trough of cold water, was inserted at one end, and, 
when the process of distillation was commenced, the 
spirit flowed from the other into a calabash, cocoa-nut 
shell, or other vessel, placed underneath to receive it. 
Tahitian Still, 
When the materials were prepared, the men and 
boys of the district assembled in a kind of temporary 
house, erected over the still, in order to drink the ava^ 
as they called the spirit. The first that issued from 
the still being the strongest, they called the ao; it wrs 
carefully received, and given to the chief | that subse¬ 
quently procured, wrs drunk by the people in general. 
In this employment they were sometimes engaged for 
several days together, drinking the spirit as it issued 
from the still, sinking into a state of indescribable 
