FIJI Day 8

After breakfast we walked to the summit and instead of returning the same way we continued along the track which wound it's way back around the hill and came out back at the resort at the staff quarters, after which we took our books and read by the pool. Lib swam.



We had lunch in the bure and in the afternoon went on the village tour. Our escort was Weiss, I think all the resort guests came on the tour, perhaps 16 people.

Lib and Weiss

A senior man, Raoul I think his name was, greeted us and gave us a talk about village and some of the history. The village used to be on the top of the hill where they were safer from marauding tribes coming by canoe as they had look outs constantly watching for encroachers, and a bit of a fort as a last resort. The missionaries came about 100 years ago and it took about 20 years but the chiefs eventually agreed to put away the war clubs and live in peace. They then relocated the village down to where it is now on the shore. Raoul gave a demonstration of blowing the conch which one man is elected to do for one year to call a village meeting. There were basket and mat weaving demos and a carva ceremony. The village was super clean and tidy and the villagers so warm and friendly. It was a memorable visit.

Raoul with conch and kids under vessy tree

It was explained that before the resort was built in about 1980 the main source of income was dried coconut powder, the only commercial crop, their other farming of bananas, cassova, taro etc being for their own food. Going way back a white man lived on the island, an escaped Irish convict from Australia named George Riley who escaped by boat and befriended the chief on Naigani who allowed him to build a house there. Riley's descendants lived there right up till the resort opened if I remember rightly and the resort restaurant was once the Riley household, if I'm right. Since the resort opened the villagers have employment and income and electricity from generator a few hours a day for cooking and washing machines etc and even TV in many houses. The diesel to run the generators is costly.

Roaul and me

Carva ceremony