Page:Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, New York, 1860.djvu/113

 THE PEOPLE. 87 " E dua nomu waqa Uvu E dua nomu vv^i levu : " Great will be your labour too." The arithmetical skill of goddesses is an article of Fijian faith, and very high numbets are thus spoken of: — " Goddesses, in counting them, would err." Gay attire, and trifling employment, are reproved as follows : — " Sa sega na lovo e iuta kina : " " No food is cooked thereby." I once heard a man say jeeringly to another of small means, who was looking wishfully at a costly box, — " Sa sarasara na ilea maravu : " " Becalmed and looking at fishes." The proverb supposes a person be- calmed, and longing for the fish which sport securely round his canoe. " Sa taumada na vana Tcai Kakodo : " " The Nakondo people cut the mast first." Improvidence and want of forethought are thus censured, which would prepare the mast before securing the canoe. " A medra wai na vosa a famata ddroi : " " The saucy take reproof like water," i. e., swallow it without thought. " Sa tuba leca na siga o go : " " An unimproved day is not to be counted : " and, — " A Tcena lay a sa vahaoqo, sa drau na Icena votu : " fold." These need no comment, and show that the Fijian can be serious, though he is very rarely so, except about trifles. The people have more than average conversational powers, and chattering groups while away the early night by retailing local news or olden legends. In sarcasm, mimicry, jest, and " chaff," they greatly excel, and will keep each other on the broad grin for hours together. A Mr. Hadley, of Wenham, cited by Dr. Pickering, says, "In the course of much experience, the Fijians were the only ' savage people' he had ever met with who could give reasons, and with whom it was possible to hold a connected conversation." *
 * ' If you have a great canoe,
 * ' Sa will seva na alewa-Tcalou ; "
 * ' This is like its bud ; " (or calyx ;) " its results will appear a hundred-
 * " Eaces of Man," p. 173.