A philosophical and statistical history of the inventions and customes of ancient and modern nations in the manufacture and use of inebriating liquors; with the present practice of distillation in all its varieties: together with an extensive illustration of the consumption and effects of opium, and other stimulants used in the East, as substitutes for wine and spirits . ntemperance prevailedto a great extent; and he found that they were in possession of theart of distillation from the Ti or Tee root (draccena terminalis), whichart had been introduced some years previous to the Sandwich island
A philosophical and statistical history of the inventions and customes of ancient and modern nations in the manufacture and use of inebriating liquors; with the present practice of distillation in all its varieties: together with an extensive illustration of the consumption and effects of opium, and other stimulants used in the East, as substitutes for wine and spirits . ntemperance prevailedto a great extent; and he found that they were in possession of theart of distillation from the Ti or Tee root (draccena terminalis), whichart had been introduced some years previous to the Sandwich island-ers. Here as in other of the Polynesian islands, whole districts con-gregate to erect a public still, the apparatus of which, though rude,answers the purpose intended. The body of this still consists of alarge stone, hollowed in the form of a pot, and placed on stones withspace beneath for a fire; and on the top of this pot is placed a hollowedtrunk of a tree by way of a head, in which is inserted a long cane ofbamboo, conducted through a trough filled with cold water servingas a condenser. Into this still the fermented Ti root, previouslymacerated in water, is thrown, and the spirit runs into a calabash,cocoa-nut, or other vessel used for the purpose. Annexed is a repre-sentation of a still of this description used in Tahite, the largest of theGeorgian ^XJum SalSI -? - The process is conducted in a temporary shed erected on the occa-sion ; and here the men and boys of the district are anxiously awaitingthe produce. The first draught of the spirits, or ova, is given to thechief, and which is denominated ao, the remainder is distributedamong the people who continue at the still for several days, or tillall the materials are exhausted, during which horrible excesses arccommitted. At the preparation and work of these stills, the peopleare insensible to every other pursuit, and often appear, in the courseof the revelry, more like demons than human beings. Sometimes in 25
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Keywords: ., bo, bookcentury1800, bookpublisheretcetc, booksubjectdistillation
