New Year's Visit To A Hermit.

THIS photograph was taken on New Year’s Day, and it records a visit made by some residents in Tonga to an old hermit who dwells near them.

The old gentleman (Mr. Douglas) now in his 82nd year, is a citizen of D.S.A., and was a rancher in that country until some 16 years ago, when disastrous floods destroyed his pro perty and stock. Gathering up what was left, he embarked for the South Seas, and landed in Tongatabu. He took up a few acres in Ko

loga, and lives simply by the work of his own hands. He is a vegetarian, non-smoker and non drinker. Crippled by some affection of the hips, he is unable to walk without the aid of his staff; but this, and the disabilities of age, do not prevent him from taking a modest and cheerful view of life, and carrying on with a determination that would be a credit to a much younger man.

The photo, (by August Hettig) shows, left to right; Monsieur Jules Speck, Mr. J. H. Young, Mr. Douglas, Herr Karl Johansson.