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[Page 32]
1914
and, generally, densely wooded. The weather during our short stay was very hot and humid. Occasionally, we experienced the same climatic conditions at Suva. Such conditions make it very enervating.
Sept. 3
Three days later we arrived at Suva, having carried out our programme to the letter, and having annexed the first bit of territory to His Majesty's Dominions in the Great War. I took the opportunity of going ashore, as officers were allowed to land until 8 p.m. I was very favourably impressed with Suva. It seems to be a clean & well ordered town. There is one main street with minor ones branching off it. I noticed that the military authorities had erected several sandbag batteries along the sea frontage, a precaution against German attack. Every night the light at the opening of the reef was put out, so that no ship could enter the harbour during dark hours. The quay is the busiest part of the town. Here one sees Fijians, Hindoos, Sikhs, & Chinamen, all employed in loading ships with bananas & copra. Apparently, the Hindoos, of which there are many, are indentured for a period of 5 years, at the end of which period they can be indentured for another five, & so on. The white people live on the hillside at the back of the town, in neat wooden houses with red roofs, which show up very prettily amidst the green foliage. There is a fine hotel - the Grand Pacific - & it was there that I met a native Chief, called King ------. He was a