AMONG THE FIJI ISLANDS. 649 



the rest in one or two rows kept walking slowly round them, sing- 

 ing in admirable time, far better than usually in church or school, 

 but quite monotonous as to tune. Their costume was only the 

 simple sulu or waist -cloth, but there were no really beautiful 

 figures among them. Little bonfires were made to light up the 

 performance, and the groups of small children tending these, or 

 improvising torches, which they held with the greatest gravity 

 and patience, was the most picturesque part of the scene. At last, 

 when the young ladies had evidently exhausted their repertoire, 

 and were beginning to repeat themselves, I slipped away, when 

 Sailosi followed and begged me to stay, as he had arranged for a 

 men's dance, and it was just coming on. Accordingly, they arrived 

 and took possession of the ground ; and the girls, after walking 

 and chanting round them for a minute or two, as if by way of 

 protest, gave it up and seated themselves among the spectators. 

 It must be admitted that the new performance was a very superior 

 affair. The dancers, fine stalwart fellows, gave first some of those 

 curious combined movements, either simultaneous and in marvel- 

 ous unison, or sometimes passing down a long line as if to repre- 

 sent the motion of a wave : then there were some capital figures, 

 vigorously and beautifully danced, alternate rows dancing with 

 regular steps in opposite directions, then setting to each other and 

 wheeling round. I should not venture in " Maga," or indeed else- 

 where, to hint that it was an improvement on a reel, but it recalled 

 one in many of its features, including the occasional shout. 



At Naiserelangi, another town on the north coast, where a 

 half-yearly assemblage of chiefs was sitting, I had the good 

 fortune to see some very picturesque and interesting ceremonies. 

 These consisted of the customary offerings made by the people of 

 the neighborhood to the visitors who had come from other parts 

 of the district. Groups of these — splendid-looking fellows many 

 of them — sat squatting in expectation on a space near the chief's 

 house ; while down the various paths leading to the village pict- 

 uresque files of men and women came streaming on, carrying, 

 either in their hands or on poles slung over their shoulders, 

 bunches of every size of yams, or dalo, or pigs, or turtles. The 

 procession had certainly not been marshaled with a conscious eye 

 to the picturesque, and yet no artist or stage-manager could have 

 produced an effect more perfect as to grouping, form, and color — 

 the long rows of pleasant or stalwart figures ending off with little 

 children, each gravely carrying its little offering, a single fruit, 

 perhaps, or an Qgg ; while for background to the picture rose a 

 gently sloping hill-side, half wild, half planted, and crowned by 

 precipice and forest. The bearers came up and deposited their 

 burdens before the party of visitors, some one of these laying his 

 hand on each heap in token of acceptance ; and then followed a 



