New-York tribune., 1901-04-06
FIJI DINNER P4RTT.

Familiar with the miserably dirty huts Of Amer
lean aborigines a great surprise awaited me in the
neat and attractive interiors of the Fjan house"
saws Emma Shaw Colcleugh, In The San Fran
cisco Chronicle In most cases the site for a
dwelling Is prepared by constructing artificial
mound.
AS all cooking is done either in the open air,
or in a tiny house built for that purpose the dwell
ings are kept extremely neat There is only one
room on the ground floor. which is sometimes
divided into rooms by reed partitions. but more
frequently by Of tapa, as the native cloth
is termed. which serve as the sole division between
apartments. These screens like the doors in
Cuban sleeping rooms. extend only about two
thirds the distance between floor and roof, thus
allowing 4 free circulation Of air
The house is of such immense proportions that
II was hard to understand how the great ridge
pole had been raised to its lofty position with the
primitive native appliances. until the information
that three hundred men were employed served as
a partial explanation. The windows have screens,
made of braided cocoanut leaves. A string fas-
tened 10 the bottom of this blind passes up over
q rafter BY this the blind can be fastened inside
of the way. A similar arrangement on the
outside makes it act awning or sun screen.
ITO do honor to the occasion hostess had
brought out all the rare mats which are treasured
such depth that We decided sitting Turk fashion
not very hard after all
donnie mat long enough TO reach ertreIy across
the room This was to serve as tablecloth Beside
it, on the side opposite the door. was placed
other This was for the guests sit upon.
places. hower-dedecked maiden placed a fan
beside each. as two others brought in the soup
This much like bouillon and was served in
half cocOanut shells. No spoons being forthcom-
ing. | took my from those familiar with native
customs ana drank the LIQUID; % When the central
moved other attendants brought fish This was
eaes and an eG wh Crisp fresh banana
Before each guest was laid glossy taro,IIeaf
Neither knives or forks appeared, but so delicious
that fingers were made before forks
AT the conclusion of this course one servant
cleared the table, and to each woman brought
a half coccanut shell filled with water. While
square of white tapa was furnished take the
place of a serviette. Prawns next and by
each of us stood a dusky handmade to remove the
Graceful and dignifed our royal hostess kept
an alert eye upon all for it is part of native
guests have finished. Turtle followed the prawns,
with baked yams. When delicious fowls ap-
peared accompanied by great golden spheres of
breadfrut leaves. l felt that this primitive people
could give some points to table decorators.
replenished. the finger bowls passed. and the
table entirely cleared by the swift. deft-handed
attendants
dessert. made of paro and grated cocoanut.
One dish which something of tax upon
the ingenuity of those 10 whom spoons
everyday matter consisted of great Java bananas
gashed. filed with grated cocoanut. and served
floating in cocoanut milk. jelly came next. the
cocoanut. This the only dish which did
appeal TO my palate, the seaweed making itself
LAS kava, the recognized tipple of the South
Seas, was not allowable at a ladies' dinner. the
drink offered. consisted of the expressed juice of
sour fruit called roe, sweetened with sugar cane
Juice.