“ * We feen the drinking of kava fometimes, at the
other iilands; but, by no means, fo frequently as here,
where it feems to be the only forenoon employment of the
principal people. The kava is a fpecies of pepper, which
■they cultivate for this purpofe, and efteem it a valuable article,
taking great care to defend the young plants from
any injury; and it is commonly planted about their houfes.
'It feldom grows to more than a man’s height; though I
have feen fome plants aim oft double that. It branches con-
fiderably, with large heart-fhaped leaves, and jointed ftalks.
The root is the only part that is ufed at the Friendly Iilands,
which, being dug up, is given to the fervants that attend,
who, breaking it in pieces, fcrape the dirt oif with a fhell,
or bit of ftick; and then each begins and chews his portion,
which he fpits into a piece of plantain leaf. The perfon,
who is to prepare the liquor, colleits all thefe mouthfuls,
and puts them into a large wooden difh or bowl, adding as
much water as will make it of a proper ftrength. It is,
•then, well mixed up with the hands; and fome loofe fluff,
-of which mats are made, is thrown upon the furface,
which intercepts the fibrous part, and is wrung hard, to
.get as much liquid out from it, as is poffible. The manner
of diftributing it need not be repeated. The quantity which
is put into each cup, is commonly about a quarter of a pint.
The immediate effedt of this beverage is not perceptible on
thefe people, who ufe it fo frequently.; but on fome of
•ours, who ventured to try it, though fo haftily prepared, it
had the fame power as .fpirits have, in intoxicating them.;
,or, rather, it produced that kind of ftupefaftion, which is
■* The following account of Java, to the end of .this paragrap}^, is inferted from
^Mr.. Anderfon’s j our nal.
ij* -the
the confequence of ufing opium, or other fubftances of that
kind. It fhould be obferved, at the. fame time, that though 1— -«—
thefe iflanders have this liquor always frefh prepared, and I
have feen them drink it feven times before noon, it is, ne-
verthelefs, fo difagreeable, or, at leaft, feems fo, that the
greateft part of them cannot fwallow it without making wry
faces, and fhuddering afterward.” ’
As foon as this mourning ceremony was over, we left'
Mooa, and fet out to return to the ihips. While we rowed -
down the lagoon or inlet, we met with two canoes coming.
in from fiihing. Poulaho ordered them to be called along—
fide our boat, and took from them every fiih and fhell they
had got. He, afterward, flopped two other canoes,, and:
fearched .them, but they had nothing. Why this was done,
I> cannot fay ; for we had plenty of provifions in the boat. .
Some o f this fiih he gave to m e ;. and his fervants fold the-
reft on board the ihip. As we proceeded down the inlet, we'
overtook a large failing canoe. Every perfon on board her,.
that was upon his legs when we came up, fat down till w r
had pafled;. even the man whojfteered, though he could:
not manage the helm, except in a Handing pofture.
Poulaho, and others, having informed me, that there:
was fome excellent water on Onevy, a little ifland, which:
lies about a league off the mouth of the inlet, and on:
the North , fide of the Eaftern channel, we landed there,-
in order to tafte it. But I found it to be as brackiih as»-
moft that we had met with. This ifland is' quite in a
natural ftate, being only frequented, as a fiihing place,.
and has. nearly the fame produtftion3 - as- Palmerfton s •
Ifland, with fonte. eto.a trees. After leaving Onevy, .where:
we dined, in our way to the ihip, we took a view of a curious
coral rock, which .feems to have been thrown upon..
the.