Islands far away; Fijian pictures with pen and brush . steadilyfixed on me. He got stiff andtired but I could not tell him torest, and the only thing was tofinish as quicklj^ as dark old cannibal had not apleasant face and the stare of hiseyes seemed to mesmerize me sothat I could hardly paint. It wasthe only time I ever felt nervousin Fiji. It was impossible to forget his conversation of the day before, and how completely he hadbeen reared in savagery ; one felt too that the savage was inhim still, only kept in abeyance by English rule. I was not ex-actly afraid, but there was a
Islands far away; Fijian pictures with pen and brush . steadilyfixed on me. He got stiff andtired but I could not tell him torest, and the only thing was tofinish as quicklj^ as dark old cannibal had not apleasant face and the stare of hiseyes seemed to mesmerize me sothat I could hardly paint. It wasthe only time I ever felt nervousin Fiji. It was impossible to forget his conversation of the day before, and how completely he hadbeen reared in savagery ; one felt too that the savage was inhim still, only kept in abeyance by English rule. I was not ex-actly afraid, but there was a sense of uneasiness in this strangewild place among a people whose language I did not know,painting the dark old Fijian before me with his transfixing was a comfort that I was not alone with him and that a largegroup had gathered to watch the progress of the sketch whichI made a hasty one, and it was a relief when I could sign tomy model that it was done. He hurried round at once tolook at his portrait and though I was not very well pleased. OLD CANNIBAL BEATINGTHE LALI (FIJI DRUM). I02 Islands Far Away. with it myself, it gave the greatest satisfaction to him and toall the other natives. My pictures were the delight of theplace. Every evening Ratu Langi asked for them, and theywere spread out on the floor under the lamp, and crowds cameto see them, sometimes from long distances. Ratu Langiacted showman and pointed out all the interesting details toa thoroughly appreciative audience. He showed very goodtaste and admired most the best sketches. The group ofslightly dressed figures bending over my sketch book in theglow of the lamp looked very picturesque. It was a pity itwas not possible to paint them. Chapter XVI. THE LAST EVENING AT NAMOSI. Everything must come to an end. We had reached the lastevening at Namosi, and Ratn Langi was determined to makeit a memorable one. First, the great yangona bowl was takendown from the wall, and there was a more ceremoniousyangana d
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