LOMANIKORO, REWA, FIJI

Click on photo for larger one

The meal is finished so now it is time to set around and visit, play cards, etcetera, but also to drink Yagana. When yagana is drank like this it is not ceremonial, but social and is called drinking grog. Some of the same rules aply though. Like someone has to be seated at the tanoa at all times when there is yagana in the tanoa. We take turns doing this. You may even take your turn at the tanoa if you would like to.

Some are watching TV in the other room if you would rather go in and do that. Just relax and do what you feel like.

My daughter Valma drinking a bilo of yagana and visiting with her cousins. She, like most of the women, is dressed in black to morn the death of Ro Adi Lady Lala Mara. The paneling to Valma's right, partly covered by the door that is open against it, is Dakua, the most prized hardwood in the islands. Most of the paneling in my mother's home is Dakua.

It is getting late and the visiting and grog drinking is still going on in the other room. That could go on until morning, so if you are tired, just pick a spot and go to sleep or go into one of the bedrooms and get into bed. In the morning we will visit more of Lomanikoro and Rewa.