zoo THE CORAL LANDS OF THE PACIFIC. 



family, dependents and wayfarers. Besides food, either housed 

 or in the ground, he must have rolls of mats and native cloth, as 

 well as other property in store for all contingencies, even to the 

 shroud in which he will fold up his dead. Plenty to eat and 

 plenty to give is the beau iddal of a Fijian, whether chief or 

 commoner. 



Though often judged by foreigners perhaps at times with 

 some truth to be indolent and improvident, yet, taking into 

 account the influences under which he lives, and the usages and 

 customs to which he has been born and brought up, he is a 

 useful member of society, and very well fitted for the place he 

 is called upon to fill among his kith and kin. 



The average Fijian is naturally docile and obedient, but you 

 must thoroughly realise and act upon your power over him. If 

 he doubts for a moment your ability to act or the verity of 

 your word, his confidence in you is gone for ever ; and in time 

 of need, when you want his friendship or aid, he is likely 

 enough to turn out a cruel and most treacherous enemy. Fairly 

 dealt with, adding at the same time the exercise of the most 

 unrelenting justice when occasion demands it, the Fijian is 

 above the average of the Polynesian ; but with him, as with 

 other native races, maudlin sympathy on account of his race 

 and colour is simply thrown away. If you promise to pay a 

 ' boy ' a dollar, you have to pay that dollar, or he will regard 

 you as a thief for evermore. If you promise a boy punish- 

 ment, you must punish him accordingly, or he will never again 

 respect you. The Fijian is of a suspicious- character, and any 

 idea of trickery on the part of a stranger will bring out the 

 worst traits of his man-eating ancestry. He is vain to a fault 

 and very sensitive of ridicule, but has no objection to ridiculing 

 others. 



Very few of the natives talk English ; but in Levuka and 



