Fiji : Tomburua Part 2
During our stay at Tomburua, we get to know the staff fairly well. They are a good group and often we have long conversations or impromptu sing songs to the strum of guitars. We are honored when one of the girls invites us to her 21st birthday party, which is an important rite of passage in this society.
So, along with the hotel manager, his wife and child, other staff and the Austrailian diplomatic couple, we board the launch and head out to where the party is to be held. We could not leave until late afternoon, because we had to wait for the tide to cover a couple of islets, which block the way to the village. We must sail over them.
After approximately three quarters of an hour, we motor into a large but shallow bay. We must get out of the boat and wade about 600 meters to shore. I pray the snakes are asleep.
We are welcomed by a friendly group, of villagers including the chief.The traditiona Fijian society is based on the principals of communal life, where everything is shared equally in good times and bad. In Fiji it is unacceptable to refuse someone who asks a favour. Each village has a hereditary chief (Ratu). Also, the concept of communal property is strongly rooted in the culture.
The drinking of Kava, also called Yaqona or Grog, is another part of Fijian life and it is drunk with great ceremony, especially on an occasion such as a 21st birthday. Kava or Yaqona is Fiji's national drink. It's made from the crushed root of a member of the pepper family, piper methysticum, which is known to have medicinal properties. Although it's taste has much to be desired, it has a tranquilising effect, while clearing the mind.
The drinking of Kava was brought to Fiji by the Tongans. Legend has it that the plant sprung up from the grave of a Tongan princess who died of a broken heart.
Originally it is said that the root was prepared by young unmarried girls, who chewed the root to a pulpy mass, spitting it into the wooden bowl or tanoa and mixing it with water. Nowadays, the root is grated or pounded before mixing with water. It is strained with a piece of cloth or piece of shredded tree bark. The amount used determines the strength of the Kava. Besides the ceremonial occasions, Kava is also drunk casually, when a group gets together. This often leads to interesting conversation.
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