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[Page 71]
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that sometimes I wondered if I really did see those gorgeous colourings, or was it a trick of the imagination for I remember flame trees with huge clusters of red flowers, acacia trees growing beside with yellow bunches, purple rhododendrums, foliage so variegated that it looked artificial, even the soil graduated from deep brown to cinnamon and plantations of pineapples added to their colour quota. And from the hotel window overlooking the sea, were sturdy Hawiians, with skins like burnished copper, surfing.
The same picturesque tones prevailed at the ship's side when we were leaving. Brightly dressed girls came with flower wreaths and beads for sale, and all around the sun danced on the water until one could see the same colouring as in the beautiful fish we had seen at the Aquarium earlier in the day, unique specimens, only found in these lovely waters.
Our next port was Suva, but we reached there in the evening, and due to sail again at mid-night, only had time to go to the hotel for dinner. That was an unusual experience. Of Bungalow design, in the artificial light it had an oriental aspect, with its palms and tropical foliage. From its wide verandahs on every side there were beautiful sloping lawns. In front a group of Fijians gathered to give an exhibition of their national dance. It could hardly be called the "poetry of motion", and rather resembled the Maori "Haka". Another group were at the boat side going through evolutions of contortions when the boat sailed, and all along the route were men and women and children in their bright coloured garments, looking strangely fantastic in the half light of lanterns that they carried, selling beads and souvenirs, by this time at much reduced prices.
From Suva we left the tropical weather behind, and discarded white clothes and coverings that gave such an air of festivity to the ship, and as we neared the New Zealand coast the weather became very forbidding and threatened to undo our arrangements for a last concert on board. However by dinner time it took on a kindlier tone, and there were only a few absentees when the Captain presented the prizes, won in the various competitions.