ALLEGED FIJIAN PLOT.

Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1951, 6 November 1874, Page 2

ALLEGED FIJIAN PLOT.

[FROM THE SYDNEY EMPIRE, OCT. 17.] Rumours are rife in Sydney, and deserve credence, showing that had the annexation of .Fiji been delayed, one of the greatest native war 3 and bloodiest massacres that ever occurred in that bloodthirsty country would have taken place. From reliable information that we have received, we learn that Maafu, the chief of Lav, or the Windward Territory, and Tui Cakau, chief of the' Thakau drove country, or Vanua Levu, entered into a plot which had for its object the subjugation of the rest of Fiji, and the overthrow, and no doubt, slaughter, of Cakobau and the princes of Bau. In furtherance of this object a confidential agent was despatched to Sydney to purchase arms and other munitions of war, as well as a small but fast steamer to convey men to the intended scene of action. This person, -we are assured, purchased several pieces of ordnance, which he actually shipped on board of a vessel leaving for Fiji. He was also in treaty for a thousand first-class rifles and a steamer. The cannons, arms, and steamer, arrived at Lomo Lomo, everything would have been in readiness. Thousands of men from Lav, Thakaudrove, Taviuni, and Macuata would have been shipped in the windward islands in Maafu's vessels, the Zarifa, Two Brothers, Bilinesi Joanni, Jeamie Duncan, and any craft lying at Lomo Lomo and Taviuni ; and a fleet of canoes and the expedition would have set out. The islands on the way would have been subdued and men left to hinder the natives from giving any alarm, or escaping to assist their countrymen. The main portion of the fleet would have pushed on to Ban, which, was to have been stormed, the King's quarters razed to the ground, and Cakobau and his sons Abel, Timothy, and Joseph Celui, with Sauantha, Ms brother, seized, 'and no doubt dealt with after the Fiji fashion. It was calculated that the whole subjugation would have been completed in seven days at the outside, and Cakobou's reign in Fiji would have been at an end. The first point of attack would have been Goro ; the islands of Augan, Mbatiki, Wakara, and Mokongi, would then have been seized by the conquerors, who would have gone on to the native portions of Ovalau, in case any of the Royal family had been near Levuka. The' fastest of the vessels would have gone over to Mbua (Bau) and Viti Levu. This portion of the subjugation having been accomplished, that of Ba and Mbau (incase of TuiMbau having been steadfast in his allegiance to Cakabau) and Savu Savu would have easily followed, and the whole group would have been claimed on the score of native conquest with which the foreign powers had nothing whatever to do. ■ The visit of Sir Hercules Robinson andi the formal annexation of Fiji have entirely upset these wild-laid schemes, and the projectors have lost several hundred pounds, expended in Sydney, for guns, arms, and powder which will now be perfectly useless. That this projected expedition was really planned and almost matured, is extremely probable, as ,it is well known that at the time of the arrival of the Pearl, Tui Cakau was away drilling a large number of men. Further confirmation may be found in the news brought by the Renard. in the -"Fiji Times " of the 23rd of September appears the following paragraph, which considered in connection with events that hay since transpired, will show that the reports to which we allude are by no means without foundation. : It runs :— " The native feast which lately took place at Loma Loma seems to have a political significance of an extraordinary kind. The style and magnificence .of the enormous entertainment ; the more than common friendship of Maafu and Tui Cakau ; the close secresy observed as to the immediate object of the meeting of those two powerful chiefs ; the prepara-! tion for hostilities, under the ostensible reason of chastising some refractory tribes ; and the general call for contributions in money and food — all point to concerted aggressive . movements in contemplation. If by any chance Fiji ■ should not be annexed, a war may be expected, and that, too, of a character to eclipse all former attempts of the kind by aboriginal <

natives. Maafu and Tui Cakau are, it would seem, determined to shake off at once and for ever the restraining yoke of Bau." Annexation has served to stop this contemplated war, which must have been disastrous to the white population ; and we may congratulate ourselves upon the eventhaving taken place in time to prevent tbe wholesale shedding of blood, without which the attempt could not have been made, even if it; had not been entirely successful. A later paper adds : — " In confirmation cf the report respecting the plot to seize Fiji, concocted by some of the Windward chiefs, we may mention," says the " Sydney Empire "of Saturday, "that orders for a ton of bullets, for shipment to the group, have been executed in Sydney within the last fortnight."