File:Fiji-its problems and resources (1921) (14580151547).jpg

Identifier: fijiitsproblemsr00chap (find matches)
Title: Fiji-its problems and resources
Year: 1921 (1920s)
Authors: Chapple, William Allan, b. 1864
Subjects: Fiji
Publisher: Auckland, N.Z. (etc.) : Whitcombe & Tombs, limited
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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of Christ,the law of service, and all are satisfied, and youmay gather up of the fragments that remain twelvebaskets full. Chapter V KMEKE NO one who has watched the gross, low,vulgar dancing of the Maori women, orthe wild ferocity of the Maori haka,can fail to be impressed with the artistic grace andcharm, the matchless harmony of time and move-ment, in the dancing and evolutions of the mekeof the Fijian. Vocal music from a choir of squatting Fijianmen and women, often women only, takes the placeof the martial band. The dancing women may formin a military square, and the faultless time theykeep in their evolutions, whether of joint or muscleor frame, their ease and dignity and grace, makea poem in hannony and motion that can hardly besurpassed in the way of artistic and pleasing effect.The women, tall and lithe and graceful, dress incotton neck-to-ankle robes. The singing girls weara coloured cotton sulu, a cotton camisole, and anecklet of leaves and flowers, their hair cut short 36
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A Meke 37 like the mens, cut to the fullest length consistentwith its standing erect. Their arms and shapelyshoulders freely anointed with coco-nut oil shinein the sun like polished mahogany. The men joining in the meke wear a kilt oflong broad leaves, whose bases are bound in a girthat their waist, and whose sword-points hang to theknees. These leaves are as broad as a hand, andare green or yellow, with a cats-eye spot, or of thebrightest cerise. They wear an armlet of leaves,perhaps a necklet, and they smirch their faceswith black, somewhat resembling a mask. Theirmarching and their evolutions on the field whenthey display, would, for time and symmetry andperfection of formation, do credit to a Troopingof the Colours in Windsor Park. The part-singing is a distinctive feature of thevocal music in Fiji. Almost everyone sings inrounds and glees, and the singing in the open ona cool clear evening in Suva by a group of. Fijiansis the very perfection of melody. Chapter VI FIRE WALKERS BEN

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