Islands far away; Fijian pictures with pen and brush . ily captured by the skilled hands of the Fijians. By the evening I think the village must have had its fullcomplement of inhabitants. They crowded into the chiefshouse, and in the light of the rickety lamp on the floor, wecould see them squatting one beyond the other all over theroom. Suddenly I was startled by the very barbaric sound of thebeating of the lali, the famous wooden drum of Fiji, whichin the old days used to summon the people to the horriblecannibal feasts. I had seen the drums lying in the village ;they looked like great pig-
Islands far away; Fijian pictures with pen and brush . ily captured by the skilled hands of the Fijians. By the evening I think the village must have had its fullcomplement of inhabitants. They crowded into the chiefshouse, and in the light of the rickety lamp on the floor, wecould see them squatting one beyond the other all over theroom. Suddenly I was startled by the very barbaric sound of thebeating of the lali, the famous wooden drum of Fiji, whichin the old days used to summon the people to the horriblecannibal feasts. I had seen the drums lying in the village ;they looked like great pig-troughs, hollowed out of a treetrunk, and I had been told what they were, but had neverheard them till that night. The dull, penetrating half-musicalthud, sent a shiver down my back, and I looked round to seewhat was to happen. The people in the room had all assumedreverential attitudes, and were quietly waiting. Presently theleaves at the door rustled and a tall figure stepped in. It wasthe native missionary, who with the rest of the people had been. Yangona. 71 away at the funeral feast. He was dressed in a clean whiteshirt and snlu, and was a handsome, well-made man, very darkand with bushy hair, but with a singularly sweet raised his hand in benediction, and the people boweddevoutly. Then he squatted on the floor among us, and thewhole company joined in singing, in Fijian, the hymn— Abidewith me —and never did the beautiful old hymn seem morebeautiful. It was sung in parts, with perfect precision, therich voices of the men blending in sweet harmony with theclear, ringing voices of the women and boys ; I felt I shouldlike to listen to it for ever. The native missionary then reada portion of scripture and oHered a prayer, the people allkneeling with their foreheads on the ground. After anotherhymn had been sung he went away as silently as he came,and entered the next house. He goes round thus to eachhouse, and this beautiful little service takes place every
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920, bookidislandsfaraw, bookyear1921
