immediately handed me a cup made out of the half-shell of a coconut
filled with a kind of soup. We generally had an audience of fully
fifty people, and when we had finished eating, a wooden bowl of water
was handed to us in which to wash our hands. Ratu Lala would generally
hand the bowl to me first, and I would wash my hands in silence, but
directly he started to wash his hands, everyone present, including
chiefs and attendants, would start clapping their hands in even time,
then one man would utter a deep and prolonged "Ah-h," when the crowd
would all shout together what sounded like "Ai on dwah," followed by
more even clapping. I never learned what the words meant. In this
respect Ratu Lala was most curiously secretive, and always evaded
questions. Whenever he took a drink, a clapping of hands made me
aware of the fact.

One day, when they had chanted after a meal as usual, Ratu Lala turned
around to me and mimicked the way his jester or clown repeated it,
and there was a general laugh. This jester, whose name was Stivani,
was a little old man who was also jester to Ratu Lala's father. Ratu
Lala had given him the nickname of "Punch," and made him do all
sorts of ridiculous things -- sing and dance and go through various
contortions dressed up in bunches of "croton" leaves. He kept us all
much amused, and was the life and soul of our party, but at times I
caught the old fellow looking very weary and sad, as if he was tired
of his office as jester.

The "angona" root (PIPER METHYSTICUM) is first generally pounded,
but is sometimes grated, and more rarely chewed by young maidens. It
is then mixed with water in a large wooden bowl, and the remains of
the root drawn out with a bunch of fibrous material. It is then ready
for drinking.