119 
on 1st July, 1871. The anniversary is celebrated 
throughout the islands as a holy day, and on Dander 
there is a pilgrimage to the monument at the site of the 
landing. The day following is a feast day. We were on 
Darn ley for this occasion and received written invita- 
tions 1 -oin the Chairman “for tea, bazaar and dance". 
These were hold on a flat grassy area between shore and 
hill just beside the church. At the end and part way 
along one side of the field were palm-leaf and thatch 
shelter surds. The Chairman, Tat Thaidav, who was an 
excellent host, met ns on arrival about :i p.m., and led us 
to the end shelter where we were seated on benches at 
Hibiscus-decked tables laden with food. For such special 
occasions the housewives bring out their best, china, good 
quality English ware in pleasing designs. The people 
sang a special Grace in their own language and the feast 
began. Highlight of it was sop-sop, a rich and delicious 
native dish made of chopped pumpkin, yam and sweet 
potato soaked m coconut milk, wrapped in green banana 
leaves and baked. This was accompanied by pork cooked 
in small pieces, and followed by rice custard and cakes. 
There were numerous cups of tea and several speeches. 
We then moved out to inspect the bazaar stalls set 
up on the green, and run by the Mothers’ Union and the 
Widows’ Guild. Three small trees had been erected and 
attractively decorated with whorls of palm-leaf. Wares 
included baskets of yams, bananas, saporas (native limes), 
dresses, blouses, children's clothes, embroidered handker- 
chiefs, woven mats and baskets. It was the direct 
descendant of an English village fete with real fete 
prices. 
We .returned to the scene about 8 p.m. Small 
children had been put to sleep on mats at the back of the 
shelters within call of their mothers, who with the rest 
of the population were seated round the edges of the 
green. The dancing area was lit by pressure lamps. Two 
teams of twelve men competed in the dancing and each 
team came on in turn, accompanied by their own drummer 
and chorus, who provided the music. The dancers them- 
selves sang also whilst performing strenuous manoeuvres 
and sometimes shook rattles of goa nuts; their rhythm 
and timing were impressive. Comedy was provided by 
several respectable-looking matrons who might hold a 
lantern in front of a favoured performer, or prance be- 
side him caricaturing his actions, or, highest tribute of 
all, rush in and sliakp a tin of baby powder over him. 
while he continued solemnly performing the dance. 
