Islands

Fiji —“The Real Islands

travel

A Regular Rim Department

Reporting News Of South

Seas Tourism And Travel

From The Inside

the world gets smaller, more and more world travellers are learning that you don’t find the real Islands in Honolulu, but in the South Seas. The British Crown Colony of Fiji, 2,000 miles north east of Sydney, offers perfect examples of real Islands scenery (such as this beach scene in front of Mua village on Vatiki Island, in the Lomaiviti Group) and real Islands people (such as cup bearer Ratu Kaminieli Vuiyasawa, with a bilo of yaqona during a kava ceremony at the village of Natauloa on the island of Nairai, in the same Group). This particular

ceremony was a special chiefly kava ceremony for the benefit of Fiji’s Governor, Sir Derek Jakeway, when he visited Lomaiviti recently, but visitors to Fiji soon learn that yaqona (or kava) ceremonies are not only for Governors. It is virtually impossible for any traveller in Fiji to miss out on the privilege of being offered yaqona.

Yaqona is no tourist gimmick there. It is a way of life, and Fiians take it seriously as they do the many other ceremonies that are part of their tradition.

And just how seriously tradition is regarded in Fiji scores of thousands of people will be able to see for themselves during the next three months without ever visiting the South Seas. From July to September the band of the Fiji Military Forces, a colourful group of Fijian instrumentalists under the baton of Lieutenant Kiniviliame Cava, will play in England, Scotland and the United States.

The band will be appearing at the Royal Tourna ment in London, the Edinburgh Tattoo, the Liverpool Tattoo and the New York Tattoo. On occasions the Fijians will discard their scarlet

tunics and white scalloped sulus for likus—skirts made from the bark from a species of hibiscus slant —and vesas—arm and leg bands —and perform spear and : an dances to the rhythm of Jrums and chants.

In Fijian tribal warfare fans ivere used in conjunction with ong spears to distract an oppo lent’s attention while the spear tfas used to good advantage.

What Britain and America will se seeing is genuine Fijian battle iress of early and modem generations. The Fijians are loted to this day as fighters. In he Pacific War they fought in he Solomons (and won a Vic oria Cross) and later fought vith distinction in Malaya.

All photographs on these ►ages are by Rob Wright.