Journal of Edwin H. Bryan, Jr. while with the Whitney Expedition of the American Museum of Natural History on the schooner France, February to October 1924
Page 379
Image from the Biodiversity Heritage Library. Contributed by American Museum of Natural History. | www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Transcription
After visit from Doctor, ashore, where Mr. Beck (who had come down on the Tofua with Mrs. Beck) waited to greet us. Up town to find Mr. Simmonds, government entomologist. Unable to locate him, but very nicely entertained by Mr. J. Probert, health inspector, who carried me all around town in his sidecar - Harley-Davidson, looking for Simmonds and finally took me for a spin in the country, out toward Rewa. The roads are very good. The lowland is for the most part grassland with scattered clumps of trees. We rode down past the Carnegie Library, Government Buildings, Fiji Museum, botanic gardens, and race course, around the coast line for a few miles and then back over the hills to Suva. Visited the Carnegie Library, where I obtained a borrowing permit by depositing 10 shillings. Borrowed Darwin's "Voyage Around the World" and Sir John Lubbock's "Origin and Metamorphosis of Insects" to read over Sunday. Also found a copy of Seemand's "Flora Vitiensis" in Reference Department. A fair library. Returned to "France" for lunch. Watched five good games of Rugby in afternoon. They play on a large well kept grass field, owned by the city and rented to the clubs. Two of the games were between white teams with fast, fair teamwork. The other three were by native Fijin teams, equally fast, but with- out the teamwork. Plenty of noise from the Fijian sidelines. To dinner with Mr. and Mrs. Beck at the Pier Hotel, where they are staying. To the library in the evening. Back to "France." Sunday, June 8, 1924. Quiet day. The "France" tied up to the end of the government pier after the departure of the government yacht "Pioneer." Spent the day reading and talking with some of the numerous visitors, including Mr. Hunt, postage stamp enthusiast, who offered advice and assistance. Evening to Anglican Church - broadminded address by the Bishop.