32 IOWA STUDIES IN NATURAL HISTORY 
fore day-break we passed some islands, probably outliers of the 
Fiji group, where the increasing number of sea birds indicated 
the proximity of land. A lady, Mrs. Crompton, and her daughter, 
residents of Suva, had given us a good deal of information about 
Fiji. She considered us fortunate in knowing Secretary Fell as 
he was one of the most powerful men in the Islands and his 
friendship would assure every consideration as well as govern- 
mental aid. They also gave us considerable information about the 
little island of Makuluva which was to be our home for some time. 
That day I sent a wireless to Colonial Secretary Fell announcing 
the expected arrival of our party on Monday. 
In the afternoon the captain told me that there was to be a 
boat drill and suggested that I photograph the scene from the 
bridge. He posted me where I could get the whole range of boats 
on one side. Unlike the procedure in war time, the passengers 
took no part in this drill and were not notified when it was to 
take place. All the boat’s crew assembled and stood in their 
places at the sound of the whistle. They were inspected by their 
officers and the boats swung outward by a new device in the way 
of patent davits so contrived that one man, by turning a crank, 
can swing a heavy life-boat out-board, the davits turning on their 
axes and also moving outward bodily so that the boat still attached 
to the davits swings out clear of the rail. A reversal of the pro- 
cess swings them in-board again. The whole thing worked with 
mechanical precision, but it is by no means certain that this would 
be true if the ship had to be abandoned on a wild night or in 
ease of a rapidly spreading fire. The scene was quite imposing 
and I secured a good negative; also one of the captain on the 
bridge. 
That evening we had a masked ball which gave rise to much 
hilarity. During the previous part of the voyage we had noticed 
an exceedingly dignified gentleman from Calgary, partly bald and 
unapproachable, except by the socially elect. When the maskers 
came to the dining saloon there appeared a portly Hawaiian 
beauty with long bushy hair, short grass skirt, bare feet and legs 
and the golden brown complexion, including feet, of the sunkissed 
natives of Oahu. This was the ultra dignified man from Cal- 
gary, and a greater transformation I never saw. She smiled and 
simpered, showing charming dimples and extreme embarrassment 
in the presence of so many white folks, and the novel etiquette 
at the dining table. She won first prize by acclamation! There 
