Poor Old Fiji!

Victim of An Irresponsible Writer

By R. C. Macpherson

AN article on Fiji, by a woman writer, in a Sydney monthly devoted to travel is so inaccurate as to be fantastic. Here are some of her out standing gems: After referring to the “emergence of Cakobau as senior chieftan”(!) the writer says: “In this more peaceful atmos phere Methodist missionaries were soon preaching their doctrine in the shadow of the great king ...”

The Methodist Mission celebrated its centenary in Fiji in 1935. Cakobau did not reach power until 25 years later. It is enough to make pioneer missionaries Cross and Cargill (1835) turn in their graves.

She says Fiji is situated midway bet ween America and Australia! The largest island is referred to as Titilevu.

She gives the population as 90,000 natives, 70,000 Indians and 5,000 Euro peans. No people of mixed descent.

The 1946 census: 118,083 natives, 120, 414 Indians, 4,594 Europeans and 6,329 of mixed descent.

She says: “The colony is governed by a Legislative Council of 13 nominated and 12 elected members (six are Euro peans, three are natives and three Indians).”

That Council ceased to exist in 1937, since when there have been 16 official and 15 unofficial members, the latter comprising five of each race—three of the European and Indian groups being elected and two nominated and all the Fijians nominated. Even prior to 1937, the three Fijian members were not

elected, but nominated by the Governor.

Fiji is governed by an Executive Council and a Legislative Council.

She says: “There is a dream quality about being on an island that can be toured in a few minutes.”

Even the pre-war American tourists (who after doing the Rewa round trip —Suva to Suva via the Rewa road and Princes road —in something over an hour were heard to remark that they had just driven round the island) are out done. The road round Vitilevu is some thing like 360 miles long.

She says, referring to the Fijians, that the tourist “may taste kava, Fijians’ alcoholic drink . . .”

Most island literature stresses the fact that kava is non-alcoholic.

Referring to Indians she says . . . “and even religious devotions are not private, for long wailing recitations from the Koran can be heard, amplifying the paper prayers that flutter from the tall bamboo poles outside the houses.”

Ye gods! Prayers from the Koran and paper prayers, for the worshippers of Buddha! The great majority of Fiji Indians are Buddhists.

Again, of the Indians: “The majority of the Indians still follow their ancient faiths and, during the feast of Ramadan, a group of tiny girl brides is as enchant ing to the stranger as the religious rites, and the tawdry tower of the goddess is intriguing.”

What a glorious mixture of the Mus lim and Hindu faiths! Can the printer be blamed for calling the fast of Ram adan a feast? And what about the Fiji Marriage Ordinance and child brides?

And the “tawdry tower of the goddess” at the fast of Ramadan!

Finally she says: “great praus that crawl like golden crabs upon a sea of glass.”

If by “praus” she is referring to Fijian outrigger canoes, I wonder when she saw them; for in 11 years in Fiji, I saw Fijian canoes under sail but once—on Jubilee Day, 1935,