MDMD(3): Fijian Guitars

[Rick Vosper]

At 07:41 PM 7/10/97 +0700, you wrote:

>On the issue of accuracy and historical records, I think it interesting
>that Jet is serenaded by a Fijian guitar early in the third chapter. While
>there is a Fijian guitar now, this was not modified from the European
>version, I think, till the mid 1800s, and probably has some connections to
>the Hawaiian version, the Ukelele. Few Europeans landed on Fiji till the
>19th century, (and Bligh, after his mutiny, attempted a landing on on of
>the FIjian islands around 1790, but was repelled). So it is impossible for
>a guitar to be in Cape town in 1761. 

My understanding is the ukelele is not from the guitar family, but a fairly
close adaptation of a Portugese instrument brough to Hawaii in the 1800's.
I'll try looking it up if anyone's interested.

--rick