New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-02-01
AMONG THE FIJI4NS.
Lite an the Cannibai Islands De-
sc,ibed by One Who Vas There.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Your article Fiji in your last Sunday Sup
plement has awakened many old memories con-
nected with experience considerable dura-
ton In the later seventies in that beautiful group
of islands. While there / was we'll acquainted L
have met many Of the chiefs not mentioned In
your article, among them Thakambaus tk1ng OF
Ban) bitter rival, Tui-Ca-Can Cruthakan or sea
king) mis- son, Ratu-La-La. and also Thakamoaus
three sons. Timothy, Joe and Philip Besides
these, a good many subordinate chiefs were among
my acquaintances. and every of them first rate
fellow. although they and their ancestors had IN
duged in the long pig or Xxi bakola' habit tcan-
nibalism). ] Thakambau several times lie
was fine looking, extremely dignifed and ven
cradle gray bearded warrior, who would command
attention anywhere with his retinue OF war canoes
warrior attendants and native drums.
Although the sight was savage and barbara yet
it strangely impressive. The dignity of these
chiefs and their of the ridiculous were sur
prisng-not at all what would expect in peo-
pie very recently given over to cannibalsm All
the natives except those living in the interior
mountains of Viii Leon (Big FjD were large
handsome and we'll proportioned. and of brown
copper color Their limbs, heads hands and feet
those of well built persons-no thin shanks or
splay feet, like the African. The type of feature
not exactly like the African. although the nose
was slightly fiat. The hair knky, but long
and plentiful, and treated with lasai coral lime)
and mo wild soap lines. when gave IL
rather a golden blonde color. 1t was worn compeo
and trimmed to uniformity, much after the Cir
dandies wore it as long possible; others had 1t
trimmed shorter. 1t becoming to them. and
they certainly took of 1t, even to the extent
OF using most uncomfortable looking head rests as
pillows. These latter were of wood, like long,
low. narrow stool. carved out of single piece OF
wood, or formed from suitable branch or
root.
The personal and domestic habits of these people
were most cleanly Regarding the mountain people
OF Viii Leon 1 cannot say so much. as my ex-
perience among them very slight. They were
a smaller, blacker and more savage looking lou OF
people, and the ideal cannibal in appearance
They kept to themselves in the mountains at the
headwaters of the Rewa River. which IS me
large stream. They used a different dialect from
the coast Fijians. The natives of the fas-a-"as
Islands also part of the group are all six-footers
and fine specimens. The sckly and unpromisng
quietly disposed of at birth until BRUSH
annexation changed matters. The Fijian is a mag
niicent sailor when he wants to be, although ne
does not to go beyond the confines OF llle
group to any extent. He is independent out
courteous and friendly. and, like the peon OF the
I,atin-Americas. he will divide what he has; as a
general thing he has lttle-a taro or yam patoh,
fringed with piantains or bananas: a bread ffult
tree perhaps; his jsaali or machete ana d re"
fish spears and perhaps canoe His wife has the
hshnets and a few calahashes gourds and carved
wooden trays and vessels which serve their needs
Their clothing was your article said out a
good many were sulus 0oin cloths OF Enghsh
goods and when in Leonka or Suva the women
covered their busts with short sleeved, short
bodied affair Of the fabric The women wore
the sulu the the men sulu was either
six or nine feet in length and yard wide. IL went
around tie waist reached from that to the calf
of the leg The unsightly Mother Hubbard Of the
Hawaiian. Islands not used, except by a rev
halfbreed women and few Samoans the people
live in communities on the coasts. They nave well
built native houses put up without nail Inc
initial framework is inclosed with cane arranged IN
various patterns. and the high pitched roofs are
most tastefully and aboriously matched to depth
of from six inches. The material for this
latter is called timbi tmbi and is the long blades
of the sugar cane plucked with the dew on IL Inc
ends of the roof also matched. and the general
aspect Is heightened by deliberately carved eaIam
baIa or fern trunks, projecting one from each
end of the ridge pole, The floors raised two or
three feet from the ground. and then covered with
a good bedding of dry leaves and several layers of
mats.
The cooking outside, and is very primi-
tive Roasted baked or boiled vans. taro, bread
fruit plantains and Fish constitute the usual Dill OF
fare. The Fiiian does not milk, but drinks
water and the kava, made from the root Oh ile
yaukona plant. The Intoxicating qualities of this
go to the lower limbs In color it is like the Next
can puluue and has the medicinal properties
when used as a medicine. On festal occasions the
Fijian certainly spreads himself The amount OF
provender required something astonishing
When ore chief visited another it meant that the
whole community be visited had to busy them
The entire visiting retinue, varying in size
as to Importance of the chief. had to be enter
tanned OH the best. For days the young would
be out after sea turtle, the women and children,
with their great senes, would restock the village
hshponds while the old men and women would be
getting together the yans, teTo. bread fruit. etc,
for the great These latter holes dug in
the ground and lined with hot cobblestont The
material be cooked was placed on these covered
with green leaves. more hot cobblestones g heavy
layer OF well trodden SOIL and then left until some
experienced with a long stick pronounced the
operation complete.
t1air
pearance in their large platformed double ended
war canoes propelled by their immense tri-
angular sail. and steered with huge paddle
from the raised platform in the centre. These
canoes never turned round. They simply sailed
end for end on a tack. They sailed very close to
the wind and a very slight breeze sufficed to move
them. Amid the beating of the La La (native
drum of wood like hewn-out horse trough and
welcoming chants, the visitors disembark, with
ceremony, procession to the house of honor,
end after bic interval, feastng begins
lasting several days. and having the varied
programme most interesting and other dances
by both the visitor and the visited. The historical
allegorical chants used on these occasions are
by very old men, who are the historians in song
of the various tribes. others before them having
handed on to them the accumulated records and
legends of the past The chants were in dead
language to nearly all, and only used by the old
and patrarchs. In due season the guests
would after great vnaG Of
At the time of my living among these people no
few whites. All trade in barter. Machetes-
very poor ones-printed calico and navy tobacco
were few The yam patch was cultivated ted, with
fashioned with sharp Mint tools fire and mayhap an
adze OF axe Saboats Were being somewhat used
white men and half breeds in the islands, Nearly
all the first generation tG of half breeds goGd
hs wa Thasr ossp he