Beat the Drums for Tonga

Our colorful welcome party

As seems to be usual on the South Pacific Islands, we were met by the friendly natives.
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                                                                                                                                                                Our tour was called "Tonga Traditions" so our first stop was at a native house to be formally welcomed to the island.  This involves the "Cava Ceremony" where a drink is made by grinding various weeds with water amid proper calls, gestures and hand claps.  All who participated were offered a drink of the cava served in a half coconut shell.  It did not have much of a taste, but it was fun to participate.  Then the men and women danced and played the drums

The men of Tonga know how to bat the drums and both men and women know how to dance!

The traditional dress of the island is a wrapping of tapa cloth which is made by peeling out the inner bark of a mulberry tree.  This is then pounded to about 4 times its original width.  several strips are glued together to make a stiff "cloth " which is then painted. 

 We were treated to a fashion show and told the occasion on which each dress would be worn.

Some of the tapa was embroidered.

A large piece of tapa cloth

We had a taste of chicken and taro which had been baked in an underground oven.  They also provided a piece of tapioca root for us to taste. 

The rest of the tour consisted of a drive around the island to see the local sights.