Bite Of The Social

Bee

A Sidelight in Polynesia

(Contributed) WHILE the Anopheles Gambiae and the Aedes Aegypti have been kept from invading the islands of Polynesia, another insect (whose bite, although not so fatal as that of the two mosquitoes named is nevertheless productive of much mental and bodily distress) has been introduced.

Its scientific name is as forbidding as its character; but in common parlance it is known as the Social Bee.

That lay readers, in hitherto uninfected islands or in islands where the invasion has not become epidemic, may recognise the symptoms and guard the health of then- communities, it may be well to cite a clinical case.

Mrs. A., a joyous young bride, comes with her husband to the Islands. The exotic atmosphere, the quaint native cus toms, the Aloha Oe music, the gracious hospitality of her Polynesian neighbours, the moonlight on the lagoon, fascinate her. The natural simplicity of the life about her gives promise of a tranquil ex istence.

After a season, Mrs. X.—a pure Nordic who has resided for several years in the island —drops in for a chat. She is very charming. There is, however, a certain undercurrent in her conversation which gives the impression that there are ser pents in the Garden of Eden. She de parts, leaving a faint twilight shadow on Mrs. A.’s mind.

Later Mrs. Y. (also pure Nordic) calls.

Very tactfully, she gives a clue to the identity of the serpents. Mrs. X. is, she confides, affronted and outraged because the most eligible young European on the island has passed by her pure Nordic but not very glamorous daughter, and has married a handsome Euronesian girl.

Mrs. Y. gently but clearly indicates that the wheat is being winnowed from the chaff, and Mrs. A. is invited to afternoon tea for initiation into the Guild of Win nowers.

If Mrs. A. goes, the Social Bee will be there to bite her. She goes and is bitten, and her peace and tranquility of mind depart forever.

The fever stages are accompanied by much cerebral hyperemia. Husbands, in spite of stormy curtain lectures, will in sist on meeting at the club and going on fishing expeditions with men the Guild has branded as lepers. And, what is worse, the lepers themselves appear ab solutely unaware that they are lepers and are joyously contented and happy.

During this stage, Mrs. A.’s view of her surroundings becomes radically trans formed. The exotic atmosphere becomes toxic; the quaint customs reprehensible departures from established usage; the Alohoa Oe music exasperating cacophony; and the moonlight on the waters of the lagoon assumes the cold glitter of chro mium plate.

Sweetness and light are soured and dimmed by periodic internecine wars within the Guild itself. Even crusaders are human. These are the times when husbands are compelled to hold clandes tine meetings in Pubs in order to keep the flag of good-fellowship nailed at the masthead and themselves from dying of boredom.

Mrs. A. eventually drifts into a state of extreme nostalgia.

The fogs of London, the jazz bands

and cocktail parties of Los Angeles, the noisy activities of Castlereagh Street’ as sume the glamorous aspect of surpassing perfection in her fevered dreams. Unless she can go, she is lost; and the Social Bee has claimed another victim.

Mr. E. W. G. Dent, a solicitor in the legal office of Hon. H. B. Gibson, of Labasa, Fiji, arrived in New Zealand in October to join the Dominion military forces.

Mr. B. R. C. pottage, who has been engaged in mission work for the Pres byterian Church at Tongoa, New Heb rides, for nearly eight years, arrived in Auckland, N.Z.. by the “Maetsuycker” on October 13. Mr. Nottage will spend ex tended furlough in the Dominion.

After many delays, the work of broad ening the wharf l at Samarai. Eastern Papua, by 10 ft., and lengthening it by 60 ft., is under way, and should be com pleted early in the New Year.