THE BRITISH NAVY AT FIJI.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1151, 22 September 1883, Page 3

THE BRITISH NAVY AT FIJI.

( . r j H.M.S. Nelson, Commodore Erskine, "arrived at Levuka on July 9. In the evening electric lights were displayed from the vessel, and "the isle was frightened from its propriety" by the unearthly, the almost demoniacal shrieks, yells, groans, and wailings of the steam siren or fog-signal apparatus, with which the vessel is furnished. The Fiji Times says ;_« As the first unearthly skirl rose on the night air and reverberated amongst the hills, the native inhabitants of Waitovu scrambled from their sleeping places in terror and congregated on the beach. Their first impression was that Lucifer himself was let loose amongst them and was celebrating his release from the nether world, and as this idea was hurriedly canvassed, the whole community became abjectly demoralised with fear. Then the man at the siren roused her up again, and while the crowd stood terror stricken someone suggested that it was the spirit of Louriana, a young girl whom they had recently buried near the town, come back to vex them. This was enough, the Tuaranga ni Koro gathered up his tapa, and let out for Levuka ; the teacher came second ; the teacher came second ; the able-bodied men kept well up with the pair, while the screaming women and children brought up the rear. Not a soul was left in town, but away they streamed due South, and each howl from the infernal machine lent wings to their feet and fresh energy to their ihrieks of terror. At Vagadace, the chief, fairly out of breath, was met by other Fijiana who had learned the cause of the racket, and when the matter was explained he sat down on the ground with a grunt expressive of supreme disgust. Hehadlearnta little English, and he gave the Nelson the benefit of it,' blurting out in gasps of intermingled Fijian and English all the imprecations ho could muster, and denouncing the whole ship's company, from the Commodore to the smallest powder monkey." — _ — I