SISTERS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 82, Issue 305, 24 December 1938, Page 18 (Supplement)

SISTERS

FIJIAN PERSONALITIES

(By

Hugh C. Jenkins).

The late Mr. Kipling has told the world that “the Colonel's lady and Judy O’Grady are sisters under their skins,” and it is not intended here to challenge that gentlemans judgment on the matter. It might, indeed, have been an interesting question to have asked the distinguished author how he came to find out this particular piece of information, but as he has not vouchsafed to the world a history ot his investigations the question will now have to remain unanswered. But leaving Mr. Kipling aside from now on, it must be asserted that there are differences among women, as with everything else. It is not denied that they all have similar characteristics, and that they may be the last thing in the world that man will civilise, as some genius has asserted; but within the species it is boldly asserted that there are differences. This was made plain by the way the sisters alighted from the charabanc.

Actually they were not sisters, save in the generic sense. One was a Hindu woman with ankle bracelets, with rings on her toes, broaches in her nose, and jewellery round her neck and in her hair. The other was a Fijian woman, big, broadboned, with a large mop of hair, big enough to be compared with a beehive. She had a broad, open face. She wore no jewellery, but she was decidedly the better to look upon as she stood gloriously upright on her bare feet, her head erect, her shoulders square and her eyes dancing with merriment. The sisters were representative of two continents. The weight of the sorrows of Asia sat heavily on the Indian woman's brow. Whatever India may have learned of philosophy, whatever her ancient civilisation has achieved, this heiress of the Ages of Asian culture was lone, unlaughing and joyless. A smile upon her weary (face would have seemed out of place. On the other hand the Fijian woman was a child of the sun. Her thick | lips, her fuzzy hair, her heavy teeth bespoke an African origin; and this I was supported by the childlike and gay inconsequentiality which seemed ,to be filling the whole of her being and prompting each involuntary activity. What was so striking was the difference in the scene when each of the two sisters alighted from the charabanc at Nasuri. The Indian woman gathered up her belongings, climbed Wearily down to the side of the road and then ambled towards the driver and paid her fare. Th_ driver himself was an Indian, but there was no sign of recognition; no salutation was made, the money was grudingly paid over and avidly received, but no word of thanks accompanied the transaction. The woman then turned away to those who had come to meet her. These people did not seem to be happy when receiving her; they seemed to be unable to offer any greeting nor to express any sign of affection. They appeared to be single units come together somehow, needing each other for practical ends ana these practical necessities dominated l the association to the exclusion of all else. It must not, of course, be thought that the Indians do not experience the tender emotions. They doubtless do, in common with all othei ;peoples; but they do not give expression to them. The meeting of this I woman with her friends was a joyless business. They spoke in a native tongue and I could not understand them, but from their ac.ions it would appear that they were talking about • mundane things, principally the lugI gage.

The Fijians, on the other hand, left the spectator in no doubt as to the way they felt about the return or the visit of this Negroid Helen. Before their visitor had alighted there were calls to her from her surrounding welcomers. They laughed and chaffed each other, the liquid flood of words went back and forth, eddied round the steps of the charabanc and, as Helen alighted, burst the dam and inundated everything. Everyone talked at the same time and at the same high speed, and while they talked they laughed. But such activity did not set free the emotions quick enough. Their bodies swayed towards each other, they shook hands, they kissed, but still more had to be done. The welcomers therefore ruffled the hair of Helen of the charabanc. Having done so each in turn, more yet had to be done, and so each lady ducked the head of the visitor just as boys do to each other when they are in swimming. This rough welcome was thoroughly enjoyed by the victim, but she felt that the occasion semething of herself as well. Her contribution to

the programme was to make violent snatches at the dresses of her friends and endeavour to divest them of this portion of their apparel. This, too, was regarded as quite the proper thing to do despite the fact that there were other than Fijian ladies present. Helen was wearing a well-cut print dress of black and white stripes and she was sufficiently clad to have made a journey in a public conveyance. Yet after the vigour of the welcome had subsided a white cotton cloth was

produced from somewhere and the newcomer wrapped it round herself, making a sort of overskirt of it. By that time the welcoming exercises were evidently regarded as completed. The completion of this interesting interlude was, howeVer, the cause of some annoyance in another direction. On the verandah of the store across the road stood a young gentleman who evidently felt his position to be one of importance. He was clearly desirous of doing the best for himself and’ making a favourable impression on the visitor. Notwithstanding the fact that the store verandah was the most public place in the scene he di-

vested himself of his clothing and started to redress from the very beginning. This did not cause any perturbation on his own or on anyone else’s part because the gentleman in question had probably not had one annual birthday. Nevertheless, his mother felt that the sartorial effort could be conveniently and appropriately expedited. She therefore moved to her son’s assistance. Seeing that but one garment was under consideration a speedy redressing appeared likely. ,But, as usual, the unexpected I happened. The young gentleman reI sented this attack upon his proper • pride, he resisted the efforts of his

would-be assistant, and then regrettable fact—he lost his temper, revealing his annoyance in public and closed the matter by throwing his wardrobe at the intermeddler. Whether interference on such an occasion was merited in his judgment, his sober and undisturbed judgement that is, cannot be said, but up to the time of my departure he remained adamant in his refusal of all assistance. It may be remarked that one who behaves as did this young man hardly deserves the term “gentleman” being applied to him. But I, having dragged his conduct into the garish light of publicity, must do him full justice.

After standing for several minutes covered with his own indignation and a lot of sunshine, he retreated behind a sack of potatoes and crouched down and hid himself for the very selfsame reasons which prompted Adam, when in the Garden of Eden, to take refuge , behind the Fig Tree. What the finale this scene was I am unable to report for the charabanc carried me down the road. Perhaps the young man rei lented and graciously accepted the ministrations of his parent. Anyway, : it does not matter, for jvhat I wanted . to tell you about was the two sisters, : and having done that my task is at . an end.