The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1916-06-02


able for many reasons, among
others the fact that while they
were cannibals so years ago
and made it practice to kill their
captives and eat their flesh, now they
are devout churchgoers. Having been
ChristianiZed, nominally at least,
doubtless they are entitled to be called
civilized also, but the fact remains that
many of their old habits and customs
are as strong as ever, although their
general way of living has been COM
pletely changed and cannibal forks are
no longer in use, writes Edward Far
rington to Grit. These peculiar forks
whispered that modern reproductions
are being made to sell to shuddering
and unsuspicious tourists. They are
made of wood, with round handles and
long prongs. In the old days ordinary
meat was eaten with the fingers, but
there was superstition that it was
bad luck to touch human flesh with the
hands after it had been roasted.
The men of the Fiji islands take ex-
ceeding pride in their hair, which is
allowed to grow very long and is usu-
ally very thick. Although the enor-
nous mops of hair worn by the war
riors of cannibalistic days are no long
er to be seen, being considered as
relic of heathenism, long hair is dis
tinctly popular and it is regularly dip
ped in coral lime, which makes it as
white as though powdered for several
days, after which it takes on a shade
varying from warm red to tawny yell
low. There are two reasons for this
custom; it is the fashion and it keeps
the hair free from tiny creatures not
to be mentioned in polite society. Oil
is also rubbed into the hair and when
the barbering has been completed the
heavy locks stick out from the head
in all directions, looking like a great
red or yellow aureole.
How the Natives Dress.
On ordinary occasions the Fijians of
both sexes dress lightly. On certain
ceremonial occasions, however, rolls of
cloth many yards long are wrapped
around the body until walking is made
difficult. Cloth obtained from the
white people is made use of somewhat,
but the natives make a durable cloth
from the inner bark of trees, which is
hammered thin and often dyed. Some
times the only clothing consists of
fringe of leaves and the children wear
nothing at all.
hn inf hnc IF &c
growing and there are thousands of
acres in sugar plantations, but the
work is under the supervision of white
men and the actual labor is performed
by coolies 1t is difficult to get the
Fijians to work hard or for more than
a few days at time. They live in
very simple fashion and have few
wants. The houses are made of
thatch, are rather high posted for the
sake Of GOODNESS and contain a single
room. There are no beds nor chairs,
but great piles of mats on which the
Fijians sit and sleep.
More than one sailor whose ship has
touched at Suva, the principal seaport
of Fiji, has had a very peculiar expert
ence. On going ashore he has quite
naturally INDUCED in the beverage of
the islands, drink called yangona
and sometimes kava. When he has
endeavored to return to his ship lit
tie later, he has found to his immeasur-
able surprise that he has no command
of his legs. His brain is as clear as
it ever was. He is in mental con-
dition to talk nationally on any sub
ject, but he cannot walk. That is the
way yangona acts. 1t is said that one
Englishman was found after nightfall
with his head buried in a thick shrub