3rd Quarter - May-July, 2007
A Quarterly Newsletter from the Friends of the Fiji Museum
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Editors Note
Bu1a Friends,
Thanks to all members who have renewed their yearly subscription and a warm welcome to all new members. A big apology for the great delay in getting these newsletters to you all.
Mamanuca Field Project
Greetings to all you readers out there.
In this issue we would like to introduce you to our staff members who enjoyed the sunshine ..oops, researched in the Mamanuca group of islands from the 21st of June, 2006 till the 28th of July, 2006. Mr. Sepeti Matararaba and Elia Nakoro accompanied the research team from the University College, London under the leadership of Dr. Ethan Cochrane. Mr Eroni Matalau of the Nadroga Provincial Office also supported the group during the first few days with traditional protocol and liaison with the villagers.. Mamanuca group of islands is situated to the west of Vitilevu, where most of the tourists who visit our shores frequent for a bit of fun in the sun, surf and sand. While the tourists lingered and enjoyed the warmth of the sun along the coasts of these islands our research team in collaboration with the Museum staff were all out surveying the islands in the group. Islands visited in the Mamanuca group included Malolo, Yanuya, Tavua, Monu and Tokoriki. Work done in these islands included surface collection, settiing up datum lines, mapping, coring and excavation in test units.
Malolo Island - The group stayed and researched on the island for 3 weeks surveying for possible locations for further research. The survey was quite interesting as it stumbled upon the Navasua ring ditch fortification. On this site plain and decorated ceramics were identified. Other spots on the island were visited with test units excavated and plain pottery pieces were unearthed. The team dug to a depth of 2.6 metres when they reached the water table.
Yanuya Island - On this island the group scaled the high points to gather the landscape and to locate possible sites investigation. An area near the local school was identified and an auger hole was dug reaching a depth of 1.6 metres. Plain sherds and shells we identified when the team reached sterile sand.
Tavua - The team commuted by boat from Yanuay Island daily and on the first day trekked the highest point to get an aerial view of the island. A hill that was thought to be physically modified, because the feature had a surface that looked like it was used for human settlement was identified. In the village on this island the villagers had dug a huge pit to extract sand for their new church. Pottery sherds were sticking out of the pit walls and the group managed to identify two pieces of dentate stamped pottery - a piece that is synonymous with the Lapita people. Other objects identified were plain sherds and shells. This island is also well known for pottery making.
Monu and Tokoriki - Due to time constraints the group only gathered data from the surface and the group was informed of oldsites and a rock shelter. According to a local historian the island saw one of the battles with the Tongans and the group was shown burial grounds that have been preserved. The ancestors of the Yanuya people embraced Christianity on a site on this island.
At the completion of this field project the team has identified Tavua island as a Lapita site and would be an island that would need further research.
View images of Mamanuca Excavations
Masi Gallery takes on a contemporary look
The Masi Gallery previously was a dark, frightening little corner of the museum, which showcased some of Fiji’s beautiful masi (or tapa- that is, bark cloth beaten from the bark of the mulberry tree). It was dark according to the Conservator’s wishes, keeping the lux levels low so as to avoid too much light on the delicate textiles on display.
With some money gained to renovate this little gallery the exhibition department thought it best to highlight how many locals designers are adapting this traditional masi (barkcloth) to a more contemporary look, making modern wedding attires from this beautiful cloth.
Some of the wedding dresses on display are made either from plain white masi to a brown color (this is when the masi is smoked to achieve this brown smoky colour) depending on the design.
The Fiji Museum Fundraising and the Friends of the Fiji Museum had the annual Quiz night on the 19th of April. There were over 19 teams that took part in this annual event, with many prizes to be won. We would like to thank all the sponsors who helped by donating prizes.
Vuvale Restaurants (McDonalds), KFC, Pizza King, Arts Village, FM Fundraising, Singh’s curry house, and Village 6.
William Belcher paintings of OrchidsThe museum has been highlighting one of its biggest collection of paintings by the naturalist painter, William Belcher.
In the middle of last year, 2006, it began to show the second exhibition of Belcher’s famed Fijian birds. Some of the birds have now become very rare.
By the end of July, the museum exhibition department is planning to showcase William Belcher’s Fijian orchids. These paintings are now over 82 years old so do not miss a chance to come and view these priceless pieces.
The Suva Botanical Gardens occupy the site of the original Fijian town of Suva, whose former inhabitants moved across the bay in about 1882. Colman Wall, first Curator of the Fiji Museum in 1919 states: 'Twenty five years ago the moat and rampart were practically intact, but there are now no traces of them left, nothing to tell the visitor that this was once a busy fortified town, nor that in 1843 it was burned and was the scene of one of the fiercest and bloodiest fights in Fijian history'*.Founded not later than 1820 by Chief Tabukaucoro - a powerful chief with nearly a thousand warriors - it was attacked and burned by the Rewa people in 1843 and many of its inhabitants killed and eaten. To the old Fijians Suva 'a little hill' was the mound on which the temple of Ro Vono stood. The space near the clock tower was the burial place of the taukei - land-owners. ....
In 1879, Sir John Thurston, the Govenor of Fiji, asked John Horne, the Director of Forests and Botanic Gardens in Mauritius to visit the colony. After some discussion, John Horne recommended that the land be turned into a Botanical Garden and Plant Introduction Station. This work was approved and by 1905 a large number of exotic trees were already established.
In 1913 the Gardens were reorganized ..and the Clock Tower and band stand were constructed in 1918 'Erected by Henry Marks and Company Limited in memory of their late Director, G.J. Marks, first mayor of Suva who was drowned in the St. Lawrence River, Canada, through the sinking of the Empress of Ireland, 23 May 1914'.
Taken from Sketches in Fijian History, Part II, Transactions and Proceedings of the Fijian Society.
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