FIJI BOY SCOUTS FOR N.Z. JAMBOREE

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 144, 14 March 1939, Page 10

FIJI BOY SCOUTS FOR N.Z. JAMBOREE

Colourful Visitors

KAVA CEREMONY AND CHUPATTIES

The Fijian boy scout contingent to the New Zealand Centennial Jamboree will be one of the most colourful groups in the camp in Heretaunga, Hutt Valley, next December, according to Mr. A. H. Marlow, assistant commissioner in Suva, who is at present visiting Wellington. He said the Fijian boys would erect their own “btire” or thatched house, would dance the traditional dances of the Islands, demonstrate the _ famous kava ceremony, and entertain theii guests witli yams, taro, ami Indian chupatty cakes. The contingent would comprise 50 boys under Mr. C. H. Ahrens, district commissioner in Rewa. They would be about 10 per cent. European, and the rest half Indians and half native Fijians. The Indians would be dressed after the European scout fashion, but with turbans; the Fijians would wear their picturesque suius or kilts, and scarves, with fuzzy masses of hair which are the distinctive characteristic of their race.

They would erect a native thatched hut of traditional pattern, very likely shipping coconut poles and leaves from Suva for the purpose. They would also bring with them much of their own food—the Indians the peculiar condiments of their native cookery, the Fijians the tropical vegetables such as yams, ndalo, coconuts, and tapioca which make up their normal diet. These would be offered to visitors to taste, as something .which the average New Zealander would find novel and interesting. The Kava Ceremony. They would carry out also the traditional native dances of Fiji, and the Indian section would stage historic dramas and firestick swinging. Another item which would interest New Zealanders would be the ceremonial drinking of the kava beverage. Kava is the root of the yangona plant, piper methystieum, ground and steeped in water. The ancient method of making kava by chewing it and spitting it into a bowl has been suppressed. The modern method is to pound it with a wooden pestle and mortar. The kava bowl is cut from a single piece of wood, usually with exquisite craftsmanship, and the whole ceremony is surrounded with a great deal of prescribed ritual and tradition. The kava, which if at all is only very mildly stimulating, has a slightly bitter antiseptic taste. A thin yellow opaque liquid, it is drunk from a coconut cup. Missionaries to Whales. “The Fiji boys will eat anything from missionaries to whales,” said Mr. Marlow, recalling the historic episode when the missionary Baker was eaten, boots and all. The Indians, said Mr. Marlow, would probably serve to their visitors chupatties, cakes baked on a grid from a coarse unleavened wheatmeal. Discussing the scout movement in Fiji, he said that there were about 1000 boy scouts throughout the group. There were two troops of European scouts, one troop being sea scouts. These iboys had a small cutter, in which they cruised among the islands. The Fijians were for tlie most part members of mission schools under control of European scoutmasters. Lack of scoutmasters was the main difficulty to contend with. Unless there were some such influence, the natives’ enthusiasm was apt to wane. In this respect recent visits by New Zealand scouts had proved extremely helpful.

The Indians were of a more diversified type, being drawn from many kinds of commercial pursuits, office workers, and sugar plantation hands. There had also been formerly a Chinese cub troop, and it was now proposed to revive the movement among the Chinese, in view of the arrival of an experienced Chinese scoutmaster from Canton.

“The scout movement is a very valuable influence in Fiji,” said Mr. Marlow. “It helps to pull together the three races—lndians, Fijians, and Europeans.’’ He said the scout district included the whole AVest Pacific, from the Gilberts to Fiji, and from Pitcairn to the Solomons. Major C. Brewster, who would probably be in New Zealand for the centennial jamboree, was in charge, and he himself was second in command. The Chief .Scout for this huge district was Sir Harry Luke, Governor of Fiji, and High Commissioner f<jr the AA restern Pacific. *