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NOTES ON THE FIJI ISLANDS

(Written at the request of Students)

THE Fiji archipelago is a group of more than 300 islands, with an area of about 7,000 square miles, the largest of which is Viti Levu (Great Fiji), almost the size of Hawaii, of which Suva is the capital and seaport. Suva is exactly on Latitude 18.5 South and Longitude 178.28 East. With this data you can easily locate it in any world map, and see that the Hawaiian Islands are on the Northeast; the Philippines and New Guinea on the Northwest; and Australia and New Zealand on the South. 

The archipelago has 345,000 inhabitants of which 169,000 are natives and of Hindu nationality and about 6,000 Europeans. Suva has a population of 37,000. The word Suva means a mound or land mark. The district is very mountainous, with peaks reaching over 4,000 feet. The highest is Mount Victoria which rises to 4,340 feet. 

In Suva it rains almost daily. The climate is tropical and the temperature seldom rises above 90. Sugar and coconuts are other main products. The Islands are a British colony and they were visited recently by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip. As to means of communication, you can fly from San Francisco via Honolulu and Canton Island. The airport at Nadi is a stopover on the Australian-North American Air route. Nadi is just a 134 miles drive to Suva. Although you can visit Suva this does not mean that you are worthy to enter the Ascended Master Retreat in your physical form. 

The Fijians are very proud of their hair which they always wear in an upswept fashion and they do not allow anyone to touch it. One of the missionaries who visited the Islands said that hurry and hustle are unknown among the natives, because their philosophy is, the man who made time made plenty of it. A native told an American once, "You work to make money and then rest. I haven't got to do all that and I am resting already." 

One of the ceremonies still held at Moengga, a volcanic Island just off the coast of Viti Levu, is walking on fiery stones. The majority of civilized Fijians are Methodists. One of the common activities of the islanders is oyster fishing and when they find an oyster with a pearl, they shout -Theeva! Theeva! Theeva!" An American hearing this asked if they were shouting "Thief! Thief! Thief!" He was informed that theeva meant a pearl. He, not knowing the language, thought then that pearls were connected with thieving.