The document discusses aspects of ancient and modern Fijian culture, including traditions such as tattooing, dancing, drumming, architecture, and ceremonies. It provides historical context and comparisons between practices long ago and those that remain or have been adapted today under different influences. Photos accompany the text to illustrate traditional customs, attire, tools, and structures.

1. Ancient FIJIANS vs. Modern Fijians History of the FIJIAN people

2. Fijian Hairstyle

3. Fijian Tattoo Fijian girls prior to colonization were tattooed about the genitals and loins at puberty before they could be initiated as women, uninitiated girls who came from chiefly backgrounds often did not have to be tattooed till late teens. The only early tattooing that remains is the spidery web tattoos found on arms and elbows which traditionally was used to let out bad blood, though the more contemporary forms of tattoos is on the rise as the global influence

4. Fijian Tapa Making

5. Fijian Meke (Dance) What is depicted here is a mekenivalu, or war-dance, performed with spears. Note the war-fans held by the dancers, and the low crouching posture that is not seen in this form in today's dances. At the time this photograph was taken, it is a reasonable supposition that at least some of the dancers would have performed such dances before "real" inter-group wars. Click on the following link to view a Fijian Meke or Dance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2r7QoOCWXrU&feature=related

6. This studio photo depicts a man wearing a liku wäloa war-skirt and a short knotted waistband of smoked masikuvui barkcloth waistband, sign of a chief. He shoulders a kiakavo common warclub. The only thing that makes his dress "gala dress" rather than true war dress is the magnificent split whaletooth wasekaseka gorget around his neck. This fine-looking man with his splendid head of hair was a favourite model of JohnWaters, who almost certainly took the original of this photo, around or shortly before 1900.

7. Fijian Wooden Drums (Lali) Formerly used as calls to war, cannibal feasts and to signal movements of the enemy, etc. Now, like our own bells, they summon people to church. Click on the link to view a lali or wooden drum being beaten in a school setting: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2kYa-OZBE4

8. Bure Kalou (Fijian TEMPLE) Fiji's old religion is no longer practiced however old deities are still acknowledged and respected but never worshiped as Christianity is the dominant faith amongst the indigenous community, there is still the existence in private of Fijian Witchcraft In Old Fiji the architecture of villages was simple and practical to meet the physical and social need and to provide communal safety the houses were square in shape and with pyramid like shaped roofs [19] and the walls and roof were thatched and various plants of practical use were planted nearby, each village having a meeting house and a Spirit house. The spirit house was elevated on a pyramid like base built with large stones and earth, again a square building with an elongated pyramid like [20]roof with various scented flora planted nearby.

9. Fijian Feast Caption reads "— a presentation of food: turtles (turned on their backs to prevent them absconding), a heap of yams, roots of yangona [yaqona], a basket of cooked food, and bundles of mats." Turtles are the exclusive food of chiefs, which shows that this was an important gift ceremony [solevu], involving chiefly clans on either side of the presentation.

10. Fijian Women This young woman was still unmarried, as can be seen from her "virgin plaits" (tobe), which would be cut off by her husband on their wedding night. Caption reads "These locks are a mark of virginity, cut off after marriage. The jealous Tavua men shore off those of their maidens who flirted with the men from Nadarivatu. Photo by J.H.Waters, Suva."

11. Fijian Firewalkers Click on the link below to view the FIJIAN fire walking ceremony http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ts9lQMlvGR0 "The family of firewalkers prepared for the ceremony - only one family on one island possesses the mysterious secret of walking bare-footed on red hot stones.”In fact several villages on the island practice it, not one family.*

12. Fijian Transportation No location is given for this, but like the previous picture, this men is standing in a river-going outrigger dugout canoe (takia). He has jammed his pole into the riverbottom to keep the canoe steady for the photo. Right: the Fijian Bamboo raft or “bilibili” used as a means of transportation

14. Kava (Yaqona) Ceremony This very young woman is decked out in a long fibre-strand wäbale sash (compare with man under "People") and is crouching in the appropriate posture for presenting yaqona (kava) to a dignitary. The only problem with this is that even today women very seldom perform this office in the sort of ceremony for which such finery would be appropriate, and in the early 20th Century when this photo was taken, it would never have happened. The woman was chosen for this postcard because she would have been considered more "charming" than the young man who would normally perform this office. Click on the following link to view a presentation of the kava by young boys. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25ZnXgGe-q8