Life story

Filive unfolded his life-story with much coaxing from "Mr. John." His father worked as a labourer earning between three to four pounds a week. (The price of one mullet, 31b in weight. is 8/-in the Suva market, while the root crop, taro, sells for almost 1/- per pound.) They lived at the back of an Indian man's house in a roughly constructed hut. Other relatives lived with them also because they came from their villages to look for work in the town; their mataqali (family land unit in the village) was not large enough to support the family. The mother was at the Suva market trying to get some food. The father did not go to work that morning because of illness and would receive no sickness benefit.

"Suva City Welcomes You" read a beautifully constructed sign. I thanked Suva for its welcome, in spite of the fact that the sign is almost in the grounds of the Suva cemetery.

The first building that looked like a mechanic shop was also my first stop.

"Why did I want to see the manager?" I was rudely asked.

"It's none of your business!"