Islands far away; Fijian pictures with pen and brush . fection. We went for a picnic upthe country to the hotsprings of Mbati-ni-Kama,and passed through severalvillages, all clean and of them had earthworkfortifications round them,suggesting the old warlikedays. The wild tribes in themountain recesses were diffi-cult completely to subdue ;and it was at Seanganga, onthis island, as late as 1893,that the last instance ofcannibalism in Fiji occurred. The men are very wellmade, and with the girdles oflong green grass, which in re-mote places still often form their only dress, they have
Islands far away; Fijian pictures with pen and brush . fection. We went for a picnic upthe country to the hotsprings of Mbati-ni-Kama,and passed through severalvillages, all clean and of them had earthworkfortifications round them,suggesting the old warlikedays. The wild tribes in themountain recesses were diffi-cult completely to subdue ;and it was at Seanganga, onthis island, as late as 1893,that the last instance ofcannibalism in Fiji occurred. The men are very wellmade, and with the girdles oflong green grass, which in re-mote places still often form their only dress, they have a most striking appearance, givingthe impression of fine bronze statues. Powerful as they are,however, they leave the hard work to the women. I met astrong young fellow stepping jauntily along with liis club overhis shoulder, while a woman followed, carrying such heavybamboo pitchers of water that she was bending and staggeringunder the weight. I secured a little sketch of him. Havingleft the picnic party to get a drawing of the flowers of the great. LAMBASA MAN, DRESSED ONLY IN GRASS; AND PINEAPPLES GROWING. 200 Islands Far Away. Datura whose huge white trumpets had attracted me on theway up, he came and placed himself in front of them, so Ihurriedly put him in ; then all the natives of the village wantedto be drawn, especially an old man with very little on butan ugly old hat, a rare possession happily, for a native inFiji. Lastly a pretty, shy boy was brought; he must havebeen of some importance, every one was so anxious I shouldpaint him. Unfortunately only a few minutes elapsed beforethe rest of my party came up and I had to go. It wastantalising when I was among such willing models and prettysurroundings to have to hurry away. The scenery at a little distance from where we were stayingwas very beautiful, and it was tantalising to see it only inpassing, as we sped through it on sugar trucks on the way tosome merry picnic; so I was delighted when a planter kindlyinvited me
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920, bookidislandsfaraw, bookyear1921
