Page:Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, New York, 1860.djvu/124

 98 FIJI AND THE FIJIANS. Fiji ! " I shouted. The old man was startled at my incredulity ; for he evidently believed the tale. Natives have often told me lies, evidently without any ill-will, and when it would have been far more to their ad- vantage to have spoken the truth. The Fijians hail as agreeable com- panions those who are skilful in making tales, but, under some circum- stances, strongly condemn the practice of falsehood. As " shocking- accident-makers," these people would greatly excel ; they could supply every variety without limitation, and the most tragic and mournful without compunction. " A Fijian truth " has been regarded as a syno- nym for a lie, and foreigners, wishing to be rightly informed, caution the native not to speak " after the fashion of Fiji," a reflection which he turns to his own advantage when brought before the stranger for some misdemeanor, by assuring him that his accusers speak " after the fashion of Fijians." On matters most lied about by civilized people, the native is the readiest to speak the truth. Thus, when convicted of some oflfence, he rarely attempts to deny it, but will generally confess all to any one he esteems. Upon the whole, I am disposed to attribute the remarkable prevalence of falsehood to frivolous indifference, and the universal tendency of the people to pry into each other's affairs. Tliis habitual concealment or disguise of the truth presents a great difficulty to the reforming labours of the Missionary, causing him sometimes the bitterest disappointment. After the actual untruth of the lips is laid aside, the principle of misrepresentation survives in the heart, and often leads to prevarication, or such a modifying of the truth as to make it seem other than it is. The following incident shows that lying, ^er se, is condemned and considered disreputable. A white man, notorious for falsehood, had displeased a powerful Chief, and wrote asking me to intercede for him. I did so ; when the Chief dismissed the case briefly, saying, " Tell that no one hates a foreigner ; but tell him that every one hates a liar ! " The Fijian is a great adept in acting as well as telling an untruth. The expectation of an order to set about some difficult job, often makes a man wear his arm in a sling : another, while seeming to work with fearful exertion, is all the time careful not to strain a single muscle ; and the appearance of seeking their neighbour's benefit, while intent only on their own, is shown continually. It has already been seen that the Fijian can be cruelly deceitful. Here is an instance in which for- eigners were concerned. Four seamen left Fotuna for Fiji in a canoe less than thirty feet in length. They sighted land after being one night at sea, and, in a few hours, were in communication with the natives of Thikombia-i-ra. One of the sailors, having formerly lived in the group.