Suva

Trees the Tourist Sees in Suva

ON seeing the Suva Botanical Gardens, bright with colour, the home of many valued plants and trees from other lands, as well as a refuge for some less-known Fijian shrubs, the visi tor would scarcely believe that less than 100 years ago this peaceful spot was the scene of what has been called “the fiercest and bloodiest fight in Fiji’s history!”

Before and in 1843, these Gardens were the site of a flourishing and fortified Koro, whose inhabitants were killed and their town burnt ruthlessly to the ground. Even 50 years ago, both moat and rampart were still to be seen in tact.

Not very far away was the land ing-place, called the Ucu-ko-Bau, be cause there the Bau canoes were in the habit of landing their fighting men, after they had sailed past the town, with their masts erect and streamers flying, while the conch shells blew and the lalis thundered. At that epoch Suva and Bau were very friendly. The kaisi, or common people, came ashore at Vuni vesi—at the spot where now stands the fine Grand Pacific Hotel.

Interest centres on the Gardens, and is well repaid with pleasant vistas of Royal Palms in their stately array.

These are, of course, not indigenous, but were brought from the West Indies; they have taken kindly to their new

habitat, in spite of being at times spoken of as “bottle trees”. They are a gallant sight standing, as it were, as sentinels always on guard, close to the residence of the Governor!

There are no mounted guns in evi dence, but a “cannon-ball” tree is always the cynosure of all eyes, for it is strangely foreign and yet really beauti ful. It is the interesting “Couroupita guianesis”, its classical name telling us that once its home was in Guiana.

A very fine specimen of the “Eleo carpus cyaneus” is sure to attract the eye, for this beautiful tree has grown to a goodly height, and is a handsome representative of the family of the “Tiliaceae”. To Australians, it is doubt less familiar, for it is known there as the Blue-berry Ash. The flowers are white and resemble those of the “Hinau” (Lily-of-the-Valley tree) of New Zea land. “Hinau” may be taken to mean sap-shrub—in the Maori language “Hi” is sap, and “nau” represents shrub.

A percentage of the leaves of this tree in the Botanical Gardens turn a very beautiful crimson colour after fruit ing time is over. The fruit is a bright blue round berry, about the size of a marble, and when the skin is removed a crinkled brown nut is revealed. In some countries a number of these nuts when dried are threaded on elastic to make necklaces, bracelets, etc., for the visiting tourists.

Space forbids further description, but the “Lagerstrormia indica”, with its beautiful mauve flowers, the many coloured “Butterfly” trees, as well as the “Cassias” and “Caesalpina pul

cherrimas”, and a score of others all enamour the tourist with the beauty of the trees of Suva.—H.B.R.P.