The Telephone

By Kai Viti

“Au sega ni via tara na ka vakateoi oqo” (I do not wish to touch this devilis thing), said Ratu Josua, an old Fijiaf Chief, when he was invited to speak c the public telephone which had bee erected near his bure.

Just then, the telephone bell ram which made the Chief more frightene than ever, and he ran inside his hous; He could not understand how peopi could talk to each other in this way.

One day, Ratu Josua was having quiet afternoon nap on the grass outsic his bure. When he opened his eyes t dusk he was just able to discern the ou. line of a native rummaging in one of h boxes.

In this particular box Ratu Josua kej some valuable articles, such as “tabus (whales’ teeth), etc.

In his excitement he rose, and grabbe the telephone receiver, with the intentic of heaving it at the intruder, when li heard a voice at the other end.

“Who are you?” he said, not expectin for one minute to receive a reply.

“I am Constable Marika,” the othi voice replied.

Ratu Josua gasped in excitemer “Come and help me with this thief," 11 shouted, and made a dash after the cut prit, who had run off into the bush.

In less than a minute Constable MariH arrived, captured the thief and convey* him to the lock-up.

If Ratu Josua is asked now what I thinks of the telephone he says: "Sa dv na ka yaga dina sara, au sa druka vak levu.” (It is a most useful thing—l aj properly beaten.)