M.C.G. ISLAND.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 170, 19 July 1924, Page 17

M.C.G. ISLAND.

(By M.A.8.8.)

Those of us who were privileged to entertain the members of the visiting fleet heard many curious tales of adventures on the journey to New Zealand. These had the merit of being true stories, unlike so many travellers' talcs. One evening, after dinner, a naval officer gave mc the following account of an island lying in the Indian Ocean which was visited by the Light Cruiser Squadron. I am able to repeat it here, .though it may appear in the official. history of the cruise. In accordance with the policy of the British (Jovernment, the king of this island, who had succeeded to the throne m.MihUd*.'.was * v *»'*-H<«xlJKlaea tion -at Singapore, and was afterwards sent to Trinity College, Cambridge. Here he displayed great talent as a cricketer. He captained the University side, and played for some years lor 'Warwickshire. Few who saw the name of-Mr. A. K. By near the top of the batting averages year after year knew that it cloaked the identity of King Loaouaua 111., of this small island near the equator. In the course of time his duties called him back to his subjects. Like 80 many natives who have received a European education, he quickly returned to the customs and clothing of his race. The customs of his island were curious, and the clothing also. In the winter months many of the nobility wore a cowry shell affixed to the top of their shaven "heads, but this was discarded during the hot weather. Other clothing was rightly considered to be unhygienic. It is very hot in those parts. Gradually the king assimilated his clothing to that of his countrymen. H« donned the cowry shell, and doffed his garments one by one; but he possessed a garment which" lie would not give up. Partly from sentiment, partly from artistic delight in its barbaric splendour, he wore continually the yellow and crimson striped blazer of the Alarylebone Cricket Club, of which he is an honoured member. i In many Eastern countries hospitality i-3 carried to such a length. that if a guest admires any poss sion of his host's it is at once offered to him fs a present. This custom was observed very rigidly by King Loaouaua's subjects. At the king's audiences all his subjects are treated as his guests. Thus it was that, when a young warrior, overcome with admiration of the gaudy garment that the king-was wearing, made a few grunts of praise, the king took it off with a gracious smile, and -handed it to him, saying: "Take it, O Woiwoiwoiyah, it i-5 yours! :, Then he went up to ■ his ..wireless station, and wirelessed Harrod's for- a new one. . j Young Woiwoiwoiyah acquired such prestige through wearing the blazer that the kindly young King made many at-' tempts to remove him by poison. But Woiwoiwoiyah always * had -lire food sampled by one of his wives before he ate it, and any trifling domestic losses that he suffered at this time he quickly repaired now that he wore the blazer. At last the boat arrived from England. The king wore his new blazer at- a. big audience the next day. Scarcely had lie seated himself on the throne when old! Whoa Oss, the Prime Minister, prostrated j himself before him and cried: 0, King, j thy garment is indeed beautiful.'.' "I've only had the beastly .thing on for ten minutes," he said. t"Take it, and be blowed!" And he tore it off and threw it at the head of his delighted Prime Minister. Then he went up to his wireless station, aiid. wirelessed Harrod's for a shipload of. blazers. That was about a year bjjfore the Fleet passed the island. The king had. been very generous, and every inhabitant had taken some opportunity of praising his flaring yellow and crimson. When the Fleet was sighted the inhabitants flocked to the shore, and; climbed ■ the coccanut trees which grew near the beach. A young officer on the bridge, seeing the horizon lit up, with crimson and yellow, took it to be an effect,of the rising sun. Finding, however, by the use of his nautical 'instruments; that the glow lay to the west of the ship, he sent, in some alarm, for his' captain. The latter, a seaman of experience, was able to confirm the suggestion that the sun should always rise, in the east in that part of the Indian Ocean. It was decided to sail towards the false sunrise, and the squadron was thus enabled to rediscover a piece of Empire which had been temporarily mislaid by one of the • clerks in the Colonial Office. On the new maps it will be shown-' M*3f,{/>C. Island. _| ' -^