Islands far away; Fijian pictures with pen and brush . amentto destroy its grand simplicity. Wewere warmly welcomed by bothchiefs, and, sitting on the soft mattedfloor, we chatted, and, as they couldtalk English, I enjoyed the evening,and absorbed a great deal of interest-ing information. Ratu Joni is also an importantchief, and related to Ratu KandavuLevu. He is between fifty and sixtyyears of age, very dark, tall, and wellmade. Though he is not handsome according to English ideas, it is pleasant to look at his face,for there is something so good about it; and his expression,which is habitual
Islands far away; Fijian pictures with pen and brush . amentto destroy its grand simplicity. Wewere warmly welcomed by bothchiefs, and, sitting on the soft mattedfloor, we chatted, and, as they couldtalk English, I enjoyed the evening,and absorbed a great deal of interest-ing information. Ratu Joni is also an importantchief, and related to Ratu KandavuLevu. He is between fifty and sixtyyears of age, very dark, tall, and wellmade. Though he is not handsome according to English ideas, it is pleasant to look at his face,for there is something so good about it; and his expression,which is habitually grave to sadness, lights up in conversa-tion with a very kind smile. He is somewhat bald, and hisscanty hair lies close to his head, but he never uses a hat—in former days he would have worn a wig,—and his dress isEuropean as far as coat and shirt are concerned ; but hegenerally wears the sulu or kilt, showing his well developedcalves and shapely feet. He is considered the most intelh-gent of the Fijians, and commands the respect and esteem of. SINNET WORK IN RATUMBOLOS HOUSE. ii8 Islands Far Away. all who come in contact with him, whether Europeans ornatives. He had been in the government service for thirty years, andfor the last fifteen years he had been Roko, first of Ra, thenof Ra and Mbua, and latterly of Mba. And now, when it wasconsidered necessary to supersede Ratu Kandavu Levu, itdid not seem as if a better man could be chosen for the difficultand important post of Roko of Tailevu, in which is situatedMbau. It is sad that any change had to be made, but in the capacityof an official under the British Government Ratu KandavuLevu was not a success. Such rights as would hav^e been hisby inheritance from his savage ancestors had been abrogatedat the cession of the islands in 1875; but he was still lookedup to with almost superstitious veneration, and the right asa great chief to take anything he chose to possess himself of,though it was against English law, was still
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