Independent, United Fiji

TJEAVE away . . . pull together! That’s what the half-million people of Fiji are being exhorted to do now that independence has arrived. The official celebrations began in early October, culminating in the main ceremony on October 10. But for many weeks parts of Fiji have been in carnival mood, because it has also been Hibiscus Festival time. These ladies of the Carreras tug-of-war team photographed during some of the festivities in Albert Park, Suva, are not having any problems with unity—but next day they probably also shared aching muscles. On the following pages, Indians, Chinese, Europeans and other Pacific Islanders enjoy the Hibiscus-Independence fun and games in a multi-racial, independent Fiji.

Members of Fiji's Tongan community, opposite, top, perform enthusiastically at the Fijian Night held in conjunction with September's Hibiscus Festival. All communities living in Fiji were represented by either dance or song. The Indian dancer, above, and the lantern dance being performed (right) at the China Club were part of the festival, as also was the champion baby, chubby Terence Mar (14 months), held in the photo by his happy mother, Mrs. J. Mar.

On the opposite page, Suva's marching girls strut their stuff down the main street. Fiji's Independence Day celebrations will follow the same pattern— making it a hectic six weeks in Fiji.

Independent, Polluted Fiji . . .

The gloomier side of inde pendent Fiji. Smog in Paradise . . . over Lautoka as the sugar mill belches out soot. And, below, another kind of pollution— a welter of signs and direc tions on a street corner in Suva.

Lower picture: Mike Hohensee.