SAMOA LIQUOR

Hokitika Guardian, 9 July 1930, Page 2

SAMOA LIQUOR

“BOTTLED DYNAMITE.”

POLICE RAID HUTS IN NATIVE

VILLAGE

APIA, June 24

The police recently have been engaged in arresting other lawbreakers besides defaulting taxpayers. Two weeks ago a raiding party of fifteen European police, accompanied by Samoan interpreters, entered Apia village one night and systematically searched every fale and hut. The object of the search was to try to put a stop to tire brewing and selling of a home-made beer called famaf, which is considerably in excess of the “under 3 per cent” beer, which is- the strongest drink allowed in the territory. One tourist aptly described it as "bottled dynamite.”

That the search was successful is revealed by a stack of about 400 bottles now at the police station. About twenty Samoans are to be charged as a result.

It is well known that some of the highest officials brew an equally potent beer although, of course, they are not guilty of selling it. The amount of beer consumed in Samoa would astonish statisticians. It seems that the essence of hospitality in Samoa consists of plying a visitor with beer from the moment of his arrival. This custom is not confined to the Samoans. Many half-caste and European families brew their own beer. Manilla” (good luck) is the password . Besides beer, many intoxicating liquors are brewed or'distilled. Homemade stout, wines, and even whisky distilled from wheat, are easily obtained by anyone in “the know,” but the most “deadly” of all is a species of gin, a clear colourless liquid distilled from cocoa beans, resembling water in colour, but rivalling pure alcohol in strength.