Inter-Racial
p. 37 · Read in the full issue
Skirmish
Over Fijian Hair
SUVA, Sept. 26.
AFIJIAN-EUROPEAN skirmish in the press has provided one of Fiji’s few recent bright spots.
Wrote a Fijian: “Europeans used to wear their hair long, but European men and many women have discarded long hair, doubtless for hygienic reasons. Yet, though we hear often enough that the Fijians are extremely susceptible to in troduced diseases, many Fijians, includ ing the police, are unable to take ad vantage of head protection against the rain because of ‘big hair’ —which is any thing but a waterproof head-covering, as any policeman will testify.”
An explosive European retorted that— (l) to say that European short hair be came the fashion because of hygienic common-sense was balderdash; (2) if long hair or even powdered wigs re turned as an accepted convention, Euro peans would meekly comply and Asiatics would rush to follow; (3) if it could be shown that Fijian health suffered be cause of long hair he would recant; but (4) too many young Fijians believe that ‘progress” means the discarding of 3verything that makes for Fijian indi viduality and the adoption of “every stupid alien convention that leads to wards the evolution of pseudo-Westem ;rs.”
He added: “In all British countries the Fijian is respected primarily because he s a Fijian” and points out that the Fijian policeman’s ‘big hair’ is as much i distinction as the British Gardsman’s >earskin.