Custom

Old Fiji Custom

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Regular Piaa Department

Ng'; - 'News Of South

)Pps :^, Tourism And Travel

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QNE of the rarest of treats in Fiji is the ceremony of “cere” —a recognised custom of the past which is not seen much these days.

But there was a performance recently when the newly-named Morris Hedstrom vessel Ai Sokula arrived on her maiden voyage at Somosomo, on Fiji’s Taveuni Island, and Rob Wright was there to record the event.

The cere is an ancient cere mony which requires that when a canoe or ship reaches an island port for the first time, sailors from it must jump overboard and race ashore.

The island womenfolk usually gather on the beach to taunt the sailors into their dive, and wave long banners of masi at the men,

Screaming with delight and waving their masi banners at the swimmers, these Somosomo women were soon in full flight across the village rara (green), pursued by the sailors seen below plunging into the sea from the bows of "Ai Sokula".

shouting derisively. They flee only when the men race up the beach from the water.

The sailors have to catch the fleeing females, who then happily swathe their captors in the masi banners, and annoint them with oil. The banners the men will take to the ship as souvenirs.

Cere is always a memorable occasion for both sides, although sometimes the cere doesn’t turn out exactly as planned. On one previous occasion at Somosomo the ship remained so far out that the enthusiastic swimmers be-

The seamen land on the beach at Somosomo after their vigorous swim (left). Vanua Levu is seen in the back ground, across Somosomo Straits. B.low, swathed in tapa, the seamen return happily to shore to sort their spoils, escorted by the women they chased.

came exhausted. They had to be picked out of the water by a launch.

The islands of the Somosomo area are among the most beauti ful scentically in all of Fiji. The area is not far from Savusavu, on the big island of Vanua Levu, a town which is attracting travellers who are looking for real Islands atmosphere. From Savusavu visitors can reach the colourful Hibiscus Highway, along whose length views like some of those on these pages may be seen.

Travellers to Fiji are inclined to spend all their time around the Nadi and Suva areas of the main island of Viti Levu, and thus miss out on the unspoiled atmos phere to be found in the outer islands. When planning a visit, see to it your travel agent in cludes such places as Taveuni, Savusavu, Labasa and Levuka in your itinerary.

Part of the business section at Nakama, Savusavu (above). At left is Morris Hedstrom's store, and the double story building is Burns Philp's store. The Hot Springs Hotel is up the hill. Below, some of "Ai Sokula's" cargo comes ashore on the beach at Taveuni, on a platform placed across two of the ship's boats.