Page:Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, New York, 1860.djvu/140

 114 FIJI AJSB THE FIJIAlfS. position by slowly clapping his hands twice or thrice ; and the cup bearer carries him his draught, which, whether it measure one half-pint or three, is drained without pausing. Other individuals are named in the same w^ay, until all have had their morning cup. To be served next to the King is a high honour. A Tongan once piloted the King of Lakemba and his suite through a very dangerous opening in the reef during a storm. The King, after eulogizing the man's services, nobly bade him name his own reward. After a short pause, the Tongan said, " Let my name be announced in the yaqona- circle after the King's, as long as I live." This great honour was grant- ed, and enjoyed to the end of the man's life. In more social parties, the straining process is accompanied by vocal music. Those present join in singing short songs, while they some- times imitate the varied postures of the chief operator. Each snatch of songs is finished by clapping. In addition to the water taken after yaqona, most Fijians eat a small piece of old cocoa-nut, or other food ; some say, to add more potency to the stupefying dose. Few of the women partake of this drink. I have heard it said, however, that the females of Waya, on the west coast of Viti Levu,like the Tonga women, have drinking-parties among themselves. A few variations of custom may be noted. At Mbau, Avhen the herald shouts, " Yaqona" the people, instead of answering, " Mama I " strike upon any sonorous substance that may be near, thus calling silence for the uninterrupted performance of the following ceremonies. At Lauthala, the prayer is uttered by the herald in the open air, the populace joining in the final shout. At Mbouma, the libation is poured into a dish devoted to that purpose, which, when I saw it, was filthy from long service. Here also the gods had a share of water appor- tioned to them, taken in a leaf by the priest, and transferred to the bowl with some ceremonious rubbings. At Vuna, directly the Chief takes the cup to his lips, the company begin a measured clapping, which they continue all the while he is di inking the yaqona and the water which follow^s. A very remarkable feature associated with Fijian drinkmg customs, is the Vakacivo, a kind of toast or wish announced after the draught is swallowed. A man blows away the moisture that may remain about his mouth, with a hissing noise, and then shouts aloud his toast, wiiich is sometimes common-place, sometimes humorous, and sometimes sen- timental. Some of these wishes allude to the cannibal practices of the people ; e. g.^ a skull ! a man's heart ! or a human ham ! Others indi- cate the profession of the drinker : thus the fisherr.inn asks for a report