LORD JELLICOE'S TOUR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17294, 18 October 1919, Page 13

LORD JELLICOE'S TOUR.

RECEPTION AT SUVA. UNIQUE NATIVE CEREMONY. ADMIRAL DRINKS KAVA. [from our OWN correspondent.] SUVA. Oct. 12. On Tuesday the Fiji native had a gala day. It was his welcome to Irfyrd .JeJlicoe and the officers and crew of H.M.S. New Zealand. There were 8000 or 9000 people present, and all the youth and beauty of Suva were in evidence. The scene was a great roped-in oblong space, some 500 by 200 yards in area. Round two sides were savage spearmen draped m dry leaves and tapa and garlands of flowers, t.'ocoanut oil made their bodies glisten. A huge pile of native mats 10 or 12 frtet high stood opposite the viceregal i stand. in front of it sal 20 or 50 .ead.ng , chiefs. These in turn performed the cere- ' mony ol Qaioqalovi, or giving of tabua ' (whale's teeth), as homage to a great ' chief. Then came the Di Sevu Sevu, or presentation of gifts. These consisted of a huge root of yagona and a dozen live, turtles. Then osime an endless procession of men and women, who each added an- j other gaily bordered mat to he pile. i Then came the yagona or kava drinking ! I ceremony. A great chiefly kava bowl was : | brought along, ground yagona placed in | it, and mixed with water brought in long •■ corked bamboos. A half cocoanutful was ' handed to the admiral, who could onlv j absorb half of it, ,id tried to spill the ' rest unseen, but too many eyes were on him. However, later be negotiated several cupfuls. Then the mekee or dances started The Okandrnve men from Tavenui, some hun- I dreds strong, gave the club dance imeke j watt), and the Tail em women gave a clever j sinuous action sitting in a row. The Tai- j levu men, numbering 300. gave the spear dance, holding fans, and final I v 500 Rewa native* gave the flying fox dance (nieko I m beka). ! It was a wild, barbaric scene. Not onlv | was the centre a blaze of harmonious I colour, but in the crowd were Indian ! women blazing with rich yellow cerise and j other ooloirred silk coverings, their arms. I legs, noses, ears, and foreheads laden with j solid gold and silver jewellery. Fijian ! women were there dressed in 'long gowns I of every hue. miinv wearing red and other flower garlands. Flags waved cvprvwhere. ! Officers in their smart white uniforms and I helmets darted here and there with the : inevitable camera, and above all came the i lilting band-clapping and chant of the men j and women who a<-ted as mnsical aocom- ! paniment to the dancers. It was a day never to be forgotten. | (hi Thursday afternoon an "At Home." ' given by the Mayoress (Mrs. H. M. Scott), ! in the Botanic Gardens, the famous Bega ! firewalkers gave a short and everting per ! form an c© of walking on stones nearlv red '•■ hot, The whole week was one of great, gaietv, i and fine weather crowned everything. The New Zealand left or! Patnrdav morning for Levuka. Apia, and Honolulu, Then the min came down, nnd wo all settled baA into our usual evervday stride.