Sixty Years Asleep

By E. E. Bush

Gone are the days when my heart was young and gay; Gone are my friends, from the cotton

fields, away.

YES, ail gone from the cotton fields of Le-ifi-ifi, in the town of Apia, Western Samoa. But one life has re-awakened, after 60 wears, to remind us of the cotton fields of Le-ifi-ifi. For 60 years it has slumbered, and now it has sprung into life to tell us of cotton fields and days of long ago.

In the cotton field of 60 years ago, a cottage was built. That cottage had a concrete floor. Later the cottage was demolished to make room for the Anglican Chaplaincy buildings. The con crete floor was left, and an additional layer of concrete put on it.

Comes 1950, and progress. The work of the Church in this place has extended to the point when the temporary church that served for 16 years, can be replaced by an edifice that will serve the congre gation in its worship. Some time ago the site was surveyed and laid out. The con crete foundations of the former buildings were removed.

And now, there is growing a plant strange to all who see it. None could recognise it. A plant, now some three feet high, of bushy appearance, with silver-green leaves, bright and glossy. A creamy yellow flower adorns it. The plant has the appearance of a very large and pretty Scotch thistle, though the flower is by no means like the thistle family.

I have seen the plant, or its genus, in Botanical Gardens. It has been tracked down in a Dictionary of South Pacific plants as “Argemone Mexicana,” whose description reads; The Papaveraceae is represented by the Mexican poppy, Argemone mexi cana. with Its rather large yellow flowers, yellow sap and thistle-like usually mottled leaves.

And, anti-climax, this descrintion was found under the heading of “Some Common and Characteristic Weeds.”

The Chaplain is besieged with requests for seeds. His answer to me was that there was uncertainty whether our newly discovered friend might not be a noxious weed. A sample is to be sent to Suva for a decision. Hence the distribution of seeds is in abeyance. Far be it from me to assist in the spreading of a noxious weed. But I should be pleased to have a plant adorn a corner of my garden, I cculd point to it and say, “Oh, that.

That’s a Mexican Poppy. Argemone

Mexicana, you know. The only one in Samoa. The original had to be pulled out to make way for the new Church.”

BUT how did Mexicana get there at all? Was it a weed (growing amongst the cotton? Was it some treasure planted beside the cottage? Will its re-appear ance stir in someone’s mind the memories of those cotton fields, and his friends, in the days when his heart was young and gay? For 60 years it slumbered beneath its con crete bed. For a brief span it flourishes, to tell of days of yore. Soon, another con crete floor will cover the seeds that it has dropped.

Who knows how long they will sleep?

In Television.

Visitors from the South Seas faced the BBC television cameras recently. On the left, Mr, Stuart Ramsay, "Tin Can Mailman” of Niuafoou, Tonga; and on the rignt, Tasi, a Polynesian visitor to London.