Islands far away; Fijian pictures with pen and brush . s are said to live hundreds of years, andthey grow to an immense size. Their huge trunks are likegroined pillars, and, looking up, I felt as if I were in a vastcathedral. I was anxious also to get a sketch on the beachshowing the great bivalve shells* which lie about and are such amarked feature on the shore. They are pure white and so largeand heavy that I could not lift or move them and one of themwould comfortably make a cliilds bath. When alive theseshell fish are a serious danger to fishermen or women, wadingamong the rocks at low tid
Islands far away; Fijian pictures with pen and brush . s are said to live hundreds of years, andthey grow to an immense size. Their huge trunks are likegroined pillars, and, looking up, I felt as if I were in a vastcathedral. I was anxious also to get a sketch on the beachshowing the great bivalve shells* which lie about and are such amarked feature on the shore. They are pure white and so largeand heavy that I could not lift or move them and one of themwould comfortably make a cliilds bath. When alive theseshell fish are a serious danger to fishermen or women, wadingamong the rocks at low tide, for they sometimes close on anunwary foot and hold it fast till the tide comes up, and thepoor prisoner is drowned. I longed to paint many more things, and see more, and do * The shells are of the Giant Clam {Tridacna gigas), the flesh of which is amuch esteemed food of most of the Pacific Islanders. The presence of these shellson the beach at Nukualofa is due to the same cause as the presence of oyster shellson many frequented beaches in 244 Islands Far Away. more, and learn more, but all the while relentless Father Timewith his scythe had been steadily cutting off my days one byone, and this was the last. I wanted to keep it, but, chng toit as I would, he got it too. The Atuas horn sounded, it wasthe knell of parting day, and we had to go. The setting sun lay low behind Nukualofa, and in its dazzlinglight all details were lost, leaving only a vision of tropicalbeauty, too bright to look at. I closed my eyes as we steamedaway. Quickly the sun sank, and against the crimson glowof the sky island after island was projected as we were large enough to be inhabited, while others werejust a Httle ring of coconut palms. The short tropical twihght soon deepened into night, butI sat long gazing into the darlaiess, and thinking of the beau-tiful lines in Whittiers Eternal Goodness. I know not where His islands liftTheir fronded palms in air ;But this I know, I ca
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920, bookidislandsfaraw, bookyear1921
