Book Reviews

Observant, happy traveller in multi-racial Fiji

In 1963 Charles A. Perkins, a Canadian, spent four months in Fiji with two American friends. Fiji—Many Flower ing Islands is the result. It is illustrated by some of Rob Wright’s

best photographs.

Personal experience plus homework id diligent research among the cal archives make up this essenti ly outsider’s view of the colony.

If it is a pretty idealistic view and le that would probably be denied r the professional sour-pusses of ji, it is not because the author does >t see the problems but rather that ; does not “believe that what is irk and unpleasant is necessarily »nificant”.

Perhaps, as a stranger, he sees ji’s problems in their right pers ctive—something that is denied the st of us who have perhaps been too ng in the Fiji bush.

Perkins’ book reflects the impres

sions of an observant traveller with an eye for the essential Fiji in gredient; it also reflects the impres sions of a happy traveller.

If he was ever infuriated about anything; or if he suffered the normal frustrations and irritations about get ting anything done in Fiji, it does not show. His journeys and his reflections are a pleasant odyssey among pleasant people who are ever willing to discuss their problems with sweet reasonableness. Although this is far from the view of Kai Vitis and other insiders, at least it is a view that will do Fiji no particular harm abroad and may do some good.

In the end one of the author’s

American companions asks: “Can everything be quite as peachy as it seems?” To which her husband (a university professor) replies: “I’m quite satisfied that my first feeling of social well-being has been borne out. This is a healthy community, capable of solving its problems.

Wouldn’t you say so, Charles?”

Charles agrees: “These people have come out of the experience of colonialism with a strong sense of their own worth—and a secure enjoy ment of the world’s affection. Even more important, perhaps, they don’t seem to have any emotional or economic instability among them selves . . . This can’t be compared with the West Indies, the Middle East or Africa.”

A lucky country

As well as settling that Fiji is a pretty lucky country, the author makes numerous excursions into 19th century Fijian history—something that has had scant attention from contemporary writers. He talks of the early missionaries, Cakobau, Ma’afu from Tonga, the great measles epidemic that followed close on the heels of cession, and the troubles of Sir Arthur Gordon, Fiji’s first Gover nor, who set about introducing a system of government that was to last almost a century and only now is being whittled away.

This and much more is set out in interesting fashion, interspersed with the personal encounters, or travels by sugar train, taxi or local schooner, and adds to the value of the book. It would have been even more valuable if the author had

added a detailed index.-

JT.

(FlJl—Many Flowering Islands. Collins. $4.75.)

[?]is photograph by Fiji PRO photographer Rob Wright is NOT in Charles Perkins' book, Fiji —Many Flowering Islands". But it will probably turn up in somebody's book one [?]these days, as few books are published on the colony that don't owe something to [?] camera work. The picture shows the Duke and Duchess of Kent watching a bilibili (bamboo raft) race on the Ba River during their visit to Fiji recently.