himself and not spoil things for me. He told me not to worry a bit about it as he wouldn't say a thing. He didn't either. As a matter of fact I think he came to forget all about it except when I would say something to him that reminded him that although I was a woman with the rest of them that I was not the female the rest were. So, my first shock over, I breathed easier.

We took side trips to Bora Bora which is a really beautiful and interesting island. Another girl and I took out a small outrigger canoe into the lagoon and got along fine because I knew about canoeing (dear old Charlie boy had taught me many things that I find useful). The amusing side of the incident was that a man and a boy, guests at the hotel, decided that if we girls could do it so could they and they would show us a thing or two. They did about 40 feet from shore they managed to capsize the thing and we girls had to come to their rescue and tow them to shore as they couldn't walk on the coral. Score one for women's liberation and equality! (or something). We also visited the island of Moorea and the Bali Hai hotel run by 4 Americans and a beautiful place to spend a south sea holiday. Coming home at night in the launch it got a bit windy and thus rough in the channel and a goodly portion of the tour group got sea sick. Knowing something about the physiology of nausea I kept my horizontal reference point with the lights on the shore and swung with the boat. Thus I didn't get sea sick and tried to help those who did. I decided later that that was the beginning of my downfall as any ordinary lady of my age should properly have gotten seasick like the rest and here I had the nerve to not only stay well but be able to move around the pitching boat and help others something strange about that woman!

Next we flew to Fiji which being an English colony was a big im- provement in many ways over Tahiti which is a French colony. Here many of the men including all the policemen, soldiers, doormen, etc. wear skirts called Sulus. They are a piece of cloth about 2 yards long and of midi skirt length that wrap around. I scouted all over Suva to find one and bought it. I had it cut off and hemmed just above my knee in anticipation of using it in Bangkok and Hong Kong where it would be hot. The reason being that these Sulus are fitted with two regular side pockets and a small watch or change pocket just like a man's pants. I could carry whatever I needed there and not have to bother with a purse which can be hot, heavy and a nuisance when you are in a hot climate and have to carry a camera too. Fiji is a very interesting and progressive and is getting ready to go its own way as a free and independent country and member of the British Commonwealth nations this fall.

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