RE VIE l^.
The Lau Islands (Fiji), and their Fairy Tales and Folk- lore. By T. R. St. Johnston, F.R.G.S., F.Z.S. London : The Times Book Co. Ltd. 1918.
The Lau Islands lie in the South Pacific, between Fiji and the Tongan group, their position having an important influence on the Ethnology, customs, and belief of the people. " Fiji," as Mr. Johnston points out, " is the meeting-place of two quite distinct types of Pacific islanders. On the eastern portion of it, including Lau, there is a very strong strain of the wavy- haired, tall, handsome, light-coloured " Polynesians " ; while on the western portion a marked preponderance of the frizzy- haired, short, dark, negroed " Papuans " is found. Apparently from the former race most of the traditions recorded in the book were obtained. In an excellent Introduction the author, who served for nearly ten years as Commissioner of the District, describes the varied drifts of culture which are now represented in the popular beliefs. We already possess a large store of legends and folklore from this region, collected by Mr. Basil Thomson and other writers, and the present book does not add much to our knowledge. The people themselves believe that their ancestors came from some islands in the south-west ; his account of South Sea Magic, one of the most valuable chapters, shows a Papuan origin: in the "South Sea Symposium" the legends come from the south-east, and in the tale of the Shark God the Papuan element is again noticeable. Burotu, the native Paradise, is situated in the north-west. " When a man goes to Burotu, and when a white wave comes, wait, and do nothing : but when a red wave comes, jump. For the red wave is the true
