A HISTORY OF FIJI 531 



and producing a tall, fine-featured, brown-skinned "Vititonga" race, 

 far superior to the negroid peoples of the western islands of the Fijis. 



In Fiji, as elsewhere in the Pacific, the strongest natives live along 

 the shore where coral reefs and cocoanuts afford abundant and varied 

 food. At times these shore tribes welcomed the coming of Tongans 

 among them, for they are far better navigators and more intelligent 

 than the Papuans of ancient Fiji, and they taught the art of canoe 

 building. Indeed, pigs and chickens and certain vegetables are thought 

 to have been introduced by this back wave of Polynesian immigration 

 from Tonga. 



Among the mountain valleys of Viti Levu one may still see traces 

 of the stunted, sooty-skinned, long-armed, mop-headed negroid iiace of 

 old Fiji, while in the eastern parts of the group and along the fertile 

 coasts the natives are superior both mentally and physically. The 

 average height of the chiefs is fully six feet, they stand superbly erect, 

 no student's stoop disfiguring the proud shoulders of these noblemen of 

 nature's making. The skin is rich bronze-brown, the lips full, but not 

 protrusive, the nose not especially flattened, and the hair alone re- 

 mains African and grows into a huge stiff mop which they periodically 

 cover with lime, causing it to lose its black color and to assume a tawny 

 brown-red hue. The eye lacks the languid softness of the Polynesian's 

 and is small, swine-like and often bloodshot, imparting a cruel aspect 

 to the visage. 



Yet, withal, the native grace and unconscious dignity of these 

 superb people, especially those of chieftain's rank, produces a profound 

 impression. Physically they seem to be a finer race than we, yet they 

 lack the endurance of the Caucasian, and soon succumb to prolonged 

 exertion, or fall a readv victim to disease. Thus the measles in 1875 

 assumed the character of a veritable plague, more than one quarter 

 of the population perishing, while in many villages the children starved, 

 and the dead were devoured by hogs, for none were left to bury them. 



Yet we must come to the tropical Pacific to see how beautiful the 

 human form may be. As Wilkes wrote, " I have scarcely seen, a finer 

 looking set of men than composed the suite of Tanoa " (King of Fiji) ; 

 and Miss Gordon Gumming spoke truly when she said that no English 

 duchess bore herself with greater dignity and graciousness of mien 

 than did the ladies of the royal family of Mbau. 



In many another trait do they show their kinship to the universal 

 feminine. Wilkes attempted to entertain the Queen of Eewa and her 

 maids of honor on the Vincennes, but nothing seemed to please, and 

 the party was evidently drifting into failure until, upon a whispered 

 word from the Queen, all became animated and lively expressions of 

 delight changed the entire tone of the afternoon. It transpired later 

 that the Queen had commanded her suite to " act as if pleased." 



