The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-07-24
rather hazardous from a financial stand

rather hazardous from financial stand-
point.
"When first went to the Fiji Islands the
islanders were not so far advanced IN their
ideas Of civilization as at present. There
was no written language there, though the
spoken language was very expressive and
poetcal in its sounds. The Wesleyan mis-
sion established there made many converts,
and through them there was made writ
| ten language, and now 80 per cent. Of the
young men and women both read and write
! this language. OF course there are many
who speak little English. but 1t seems diff
ficult for them to master it. Twenty years
ago there was little cloth except the rough
native stuff made from the fiber Of plant
which grows on the islands, resembling
| horsehair. 1t served its purpose, how
ever, and had the advantage
of being practically indestructble.
The fortunate female who was
possessed of a strip of calico was considered
in the hight of fashion when she strolled
out with it wrapped about her But che
cost of it was so great to them that they
were necessarily very frugal In the wearing
| of it. Il was nothing uncommon TO see a
| girl or woman employed as field hand go
| to the field wearing her precious piece of
| calico, and when there get behind the
| friendly shade OF q banana plant and ex-
change it for an improvised one made out
VI u OtOH0 du1 bduhAo AOaA1 WlACil 10
some fest wide and feet long, wrapped
about her waist The banana leaf makes a
cool and comfortable working costume, one
which costs neither money nor labor in its
preparation, and which serves Its purpose
admirably. There is seen disposition on
the part of some of the islanders to adopt
dresses and European coats and trousers, but
it is by no means general.
1.-THE Fijians are peaceable, honest class
OF people, with morals In every way better
than the inhabitants of most islands in the
southern sens. They are very cleanly in
their personal habits, and one need never be
afraid of eating the food they set before
their visitors. They are not particularly
thrifty, but it is not to be expected when
man can earn enough in two moHths TO keep
him in comfort, if not in luxury for the re-
naming ten months OF the year. By this
do not intend to convey the idea that the
popular theory regarding tropical countries
is true-thaJ all one need do Is to open his
mouth for ripe fruit to drop in. While
fruit grows in tolerable abundance, they
need a certain amount of cultivation. The
natives have their yams and pantains, their
cocoanuts and piueapples, and there ia not
much else needed. Wages there are very
low. A field hand will receive on an aver
age sixpencs day, and a laborer in a sugar
| mill possibly double that sum.
The Fiji Islands are under the control of
= p
| islands. When I was there the first time,
| in 1872, the aborigines were in control of
their own lands, with chiefs over the sew
eral tribes. Cakabau. the greatest of the
chiefs IN point Of following, was ruler over
the island of Viii Levu, which means Big
Fiji, and about the year 1873 two Europeans
came to the country. They saw the pos
| sibilities Of kingdom, aud through some
scheme induced Cakabau TO consent to be
| the ruler. A crown vas made, a handsome
| affair made OF Sheet tin covered with coffin
ornaments, which, was told recently by
the man who made it, cost 50, and Caksbau
was duly invested with the gaudy
1 toy and clothed in the ernine Of king
which, By the way, was cut from bolt of
calico. King Cakabau kept his job for
about seven years, though his throne be-
| came a little shaky at times be-
cause Of the discomfort OF an almost equally
powerful chief In 1880. or thereabouts, the
islands were formally coded to Great Britain,
and have since been under English control.
| By sort Of coincidence, John Thurston,
one Of the men who originated the scheme
| for kingdom with Cakabau at its head,
who came to the islands as second mate OF
sailing vessel. and at once became photog-
rapher. has 6ow become Sir Johu Thurston,
| governor of the islands. The 50 investment
| for the tin crown with the coffin ornaments
proved a paying Investment.