Tongans Show Loyalty

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30939, 21 December 1965, Page 3

Tongans Show Loyalty

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) NUKUALOFA, Dec. 20. The body of Queen Salote came home to Tonga this evening to a demonstration of loyalty and love.

Thousands of schoolchildren lined the 13 miles from Fuamotu airfield to Nukualofa. seated and silent in the Tongan tradition of mourning. Behind them adults also were seated, many weeping uncontrollably, although custom asks that people should not cry for a ruler. A 21-gun salute was fired. A shower fell as the body arrived at the airfield as Tongans knew it would. Traditionally showers have always bidden farewell to and greeted the Queen.

On other occasions showers have been tears of joy. This time Tongans say heaven was crying with grief. There has been a twomonth drought in Tonga with no real rain. Since the

Queen’s death Tongans have forecast rain for today with certainty. For superstitious Tongan people other signs have marked the Queen’s death, the most significant being the appearance of a white flying fox.

Black flying foxes inhabit the village of Kolovai on the western tip of Tongatapu. By Tongan tradition an albino fox always makes an appearance before the death of a prominent chief. One week before Queen Salote died, one white and two black flying foxes were seen at the break-up of Queen Salote College in Nukualofa. It was an omen which was taken seriously. Tonight the Queen’s body is lying in state in the chapel within the palace grounds watched over by men of the Royal guard and visited by members of the Royal family. Outside the palace grounds hundeds of small fires flicker. Noone may enter the palace grounds but choirs from five villages around Nukualofa are singing hymns. The ceremony will continue until the funeral on Thursday as village after village takes its turn to pay a tribute. The Kbmaiwai sailed from Suva today on a special voyage to Nukualofa with passengers travelling to the funeral. They included the Bishop of Polynesia (the Rt Bev. J. Vockler). The Queen’s half-brother, Ratu. Edward Cakabau, and the Governor of Fiji (Sir Derek Jakeway) will follow by air.