EXHIBITION OF FIJIAN CURIOSITIES.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 453, 26 November 1875, Page 2

EXHIBITION OF FIJIAN CURIOSITIES.

An exhibition of native curiosities, from the Fijian and Solomon Islands, was opened yesterday in the upper rooms of Messrs Maling and Co's warehouse, Hereford street. The collection is a very large and interesting one, and has taken nearly five years to acquire. The articles are tastefully arranged on the walls and on tablep. It should, perhaps, first be mentioned that Mr Surplice, to whom the collection belongs, who has lately arrived from Fiji, took a very active part in church matters while there, and purposes devoting the proceeds of the exhibition to clearing off a debt which exists on the Church of the Redeemer, in Levuka. Taking the items in the order of their arrangement, the visitor first sees, on entering the room, a number of Fijian pillows, about 18in long by 6in high, carved out of solid wood, with a curve for the neck, this rather uncomfortable mode of sleeping preventing the hair being disturbed, an ornament of which the natives are very proud. Here also are a number of yagona bowls, for holding Kava or Fijian grog, which is extracted from a tree, specimens of which are placed in the bowls. There are also cannibal dishes, parts of canoe models, &c, all of them being cut out of solid wood. Several deadly poisoned arrows and spears, from the Solomon Islands, are suspended from the wall here, the barbs of which are made from human bone; one spear, having a point of solid human bone about Bin in length. In this section are also a number of stone adzes, an alalai or drum for calling to war, dances, prayers, &c, and canoe bailers with handles cut out of the solid. Next in order are a variety of clubs, Fijian spears with human bone points, baskets of Bala Bala prepared from the fern tree, and used by the Europeans in the islands for stuffing pillows, specimens of Fijian cotton ginned and in the seed, samples of chillies indigenous to the island dried and pickled, sponges, prepared banana leaves used by the natives for making cigarettes, specimens of tortoise shell, arrowroot, and tapioca prepared by the natives and Europeans, and coal from the Windward Islands. Further along are found native reef lime, voi voi used for making mats, annato, a native dye, specimens of native glazed pottery, with pieci'S of gum used in the glnzinoc process. The next division is particularly interesting, from the horrid associations connected therewith, fis it contains a number of stones taken from :annibal ovens, among them being a piece broken off a large stone on which the victims used to lay their heads previous to being dubbed. Furtheronwe have oil extracted from die Dilo nut, a valuable application for sprains, with samples of the nuts ; implements used for the manufacture of tappa or native cloth ; mats for nursing babies on ; plaited native sinnet, made from the husks of the cocoa nut; an assortment of baskets made in the island Nawi; fans made from 'he leaf of the barren cocoa nut tree, and various specimens of tappa. A child's pinafore, sewn by a native woman, placed here, will no doubt prove an object of attraction to the ladies. Continuing along the table is seen a large Samoa mat, >

made fro'i vni 7oi, F'jian arrows, and four ■Tin«---! ii I. iijr j >•■,! , a 'hatching needle,! il a peouli ir looking masthead for a canoe; needles used for sewing sa Is, and made out of human bone; and bamboo nose ilutes played with the nostrils, In the next division are shell bracelets manufactured by rubbing against a rock; necklaces composed of the backbones of snakes; native ornaments and trophies, consisting of girdles of whale's teeth, boar's tusks, <kc, and splendidly worked specimens of Solomon Island clubs. We next come to some Fijian ferns nicely mounted, and a valuable variety of tortoise shell ornaments, these specimens being the work of a young European genius, who manufactured them with very primitive tools. The next division contains cocoanuts used by the natives for carrying salt and fresh water mixed for cooking purposes; Fiji combs made from a hard kind of wood; specimens of native writing, some of them being written by the King's eldest son; mats made by the Samoan natives; photographs of the Church of the Redeemer, Levuka, with the Sunday school children in front; an excellently executed view of Levuka, with likenesses of the King, the powerful chief Maafu, native judge, chiefs, &c. Arranged around the room are a largenumber of Fijian mats, someworked with stained wool, native baskets, and other specimens too numerous to particularise ; but throughout the various divisions is distributed a splendid collection of shells of all kinds. At the southern end of the room has been erected a water scene to represent a lake, with coral and shells at the bottom, and through this miniature lake, surrounded by mountains, are sailing models of native wagis and European crafts, the latter being the work of a runaway sailor who has lived forty-five years in the Fijis. In an adjoining apartment is a Solomon Island god, and some carved articles which used to be suspended in the native temples, and held to be sacred to the god. Here there is also a collection of stained native cloth. Mr Surplice and his sons presence increases the interest of the exhibition by their kindness, shown in giving the names of the different native curiosities, their manner of manufacture, and any interesting association that may be connected with them; and not only of itself is the collection worthy of a visit, but that gentleman deserves to be supported in the laudable object he has in view. There was a fair attendance of visitors throughout the day. It must not beomittcd to be mentioned fhatoneof MrSurplice's younger sons—a little fellow only nine years of age, and who was organist at the church in Levuka—presides at the harmonium during the day and evening. Master Surplice, previous to leaving Fiji, was thanked by his Excellency Sir Arthur Gordon for the services he had rendered to the church, and was also presented by the congregation with a purse of sovereigns.