Confirmed awa drinkers might be
mistaken for lepers, for they are covered with whitish scales, and
have inflamed eyes and a leathery skin, for the epidermis is
thickened and whitened, and eventually peels off. The habit has
been adopted by not a few whites, specially on Hawaii, though, of
course, to a certain extent clandestinely. Awa is taken also as a
medicine, and was supposed to be a certain cure for corpulence.
The root and base of the stem are the parts used, and it is best
when these are fresh. It seems to exercise a powerful fascination,
and to be loved and glorified as whisky is in Scotland, and wine in
southern Europe. In some of the other islands of Polynesia, on
festive occasions, when the chewed root is placed in the calabash,
and the water is poured on, the whole assemblage sings appropriate
songs in its praise; and this is kept up until the decoction has
been strained to its dregs. But here, as the using it as a beverage
is an illicit process, a great mystery attends it. It is said that
awa drinking is again on the increase, and with the illicit
distillation of unwholesome spirits, and the illicit sale of
imported spirits and the opium smoking, the consumption of
stimulants and narcotics on the islands is very considerable.
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