The houses in the Australs are very well kept, and the people seem quite obsessive about maintaining a sense of order and tidiness on their islands.  They mow and rake their yards; they burn all the dead leaves and coconut husks; and I even saw one woman raking the beach of dead leaves and pine needles and burning them.  The village streets are all lined with brightly colored hedges and fruit trees, and each front yard is filled with colorful potted plants, coral decorations, and seashells.