EX-KING THAKOMBAU.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LIX, Issue 6869, 6 March 1883, Page 5

EX-KING THAKOMBAU.

(From the Arqus ) The death of the chief of Baa, who for many yean before Fiji became a Britiih Colony was recognised by the white residents m king of that country, is deserving of more than pawing notice, for Thakombau waa a savage of more than ordinary sagacity, and one whoa* career was in many reaped! remarkable. Ai ohief of Ban, Thakombau was the moit powerful native ruler that Fiji haa produced. Ban, though only a very email island waited to the ihore of Yiti Lsvu, near one of the moutha of the Bewa, by a reef fordable at low water, haa been peopled by a tribe of chiefs from time immemorial, und aetenty or eighty yeara ago it waa the mott powerful in the archipelago. Tanoa, the previous Vunivalo, succeeded to the chiefdom early in the present century, and Thakombau, called Beru in his youth, was born about the year 1817. Like his father, Tanoa, he was a rnthleis cannibal, and early gate evidence of the ambitious and crafty disposition which has distinguished his maturer years. He had barely attained his sixth year when his hands were first stained with the blood of his countrymen. At that age a lad taken prisoner in battle waa \ brought before Mm, and he clubbed i him to death. In 1832 the ohief* of Bau rebelling against their kiog, Tanoa had to quit his dominions. She young Seru, I who was left behind, being considered harmless on account of his youth, while apparently wholly engrossed with the pleasures suited to his years, skilfully intrigued against the usurper, and eventually accomplished the restoration of his father, after an exile of five years. The success of this well-planned scheme gained for him the title of Thakombau (evil to Bau) from the rebel party, and he has ever since been known by that name. The defeated party were subjected to the inhuman punishments whioh were common in those days. A prisoner being brought before Thakombau, he ordered his tongue to be out out, and ate it raw, before the man's face, cracking jokes the while. The victim was subsequently, after being submitted to further tortures, killed and eaten. On a more recent occasion, when being dunned by a European for money whioh he was not in the humour to pay, this amiable monarch suggestively reminded the importunate creditor that the flesh of the white man was like ripe bananas. It was the ancient custom to have two rulers of equal importance, the Boko Tui (sacred kng), and the Yunivalu (root of war.) The duties of the former pertained to the priesthood, and were connected with heathen sacrifices, while the latter occupied the position of Prime Minister and commander-in-chief. The rank Tanoa and Thakombau held was" that of Yunivalu. The introduction of Christianity destroyed the importance of the Boko Tai, but the title was still retained. When Tanoa died in 1852 five of his wives were strangled. In July of the following year Thakombau was formally invested with the rank and dignity of Yunivalu of Bau. 'I he event was celebrated by the sacrifice of 18 Fijian?, who were ready cooked for eating, when, through the exertions of a missionary and Mr Owen, an Adelaide merchant, trading in Fiji, the bodies were given up to the latter for burial on his threatening to ceaso all business transactions if the cannibal feast took place. Cannibalism was practised in Bau until i 1854. The Wcslejan missionaries had long been endeavouring to gain over Thakombau to their cause, and on April 80 in that year, after muoh vacillation, he took the decisive step, when oannibalism at once oeased. At nine o'clock on the morning of that day, the lali, the fearful drum which had sounded the announcement of a cannibal feast only ten dajs previously, was beaten for an assemblage to witness the Vunivalu'e publio renunciation, of heathenism. He did not abandon polygamy, however, until three years later. In January, 1657, his many wives were dismissed, and he was married to the favourite according to the Wesleyan formula. It is the custom of the missionaries to withhold the rite of baptism from natives living in polygamy, and this obstacle beicg removed, Thakombau and his wife were publicly baptised on Jan, 11. The remarkable scene which followed on this occasion is thus feelingly desoribed by the Bev Mr Waterhouse—' In thojfteraoon the king was publicly baptised. Irisfht} presence of God he promised ' to renounce the devil and all his works, the pomps and vanities of this wicked world, and all the sinful lusts of the flesh.' He engaged to believe all the articles of the Christian faith, and solemnly vowed, in the name of the Holy Trinity, Mo keep Clod's holy will and o»mmandments, and to walk in the same all the days of hit life.' In accordance with my request previously made, the King tnen addressed the assembly. It must have oast him many a struggle to stand up before His oourt, his ambassadors, and the flower of his people, to confess his former sins. And in time past ho had considered himself a god, and had received honours almost divine front his people. Now he humbles himself, and adores his great Creator and merciful Preserver. And what a congregation he had. Husbands whose wives he had dishonoured! widows whose husbands he had slain! sisters whose brothers had been strangled by his orders 1 relatives whose friends he had eaten! and ohildren, the descendants of those ho had murdered, and who had vowed to revenge the wrongs inflioted on their fathers! A thousand stony hearts heaved with fear and astonishment as ' Thakombau gave utterance to the following sentiments:—'l hayo been a bad man. I disturbed the country. The missionaries came and invited m« to embrace Christianity, but I said to them," I will continue to fight." God has singularly preterved my life. At one tim* I thought that I had myself been the instrument of my own preservation I but now I know that it was the Lord's doing. Iqssire to acknowledge Him U the only »nd[ the true God. I have scourged the worfi.' Ho was deeply affected, and spoke with gnat diffidence." Thakombau seWed Bbenexer as his baptismal name, ansl hi* wife that of tydia, From th» Usaf forth ha scrupulously adhered to his pwfeseums of religion, as far aa all outward .■ observance* are concerned. He embraced Obristiaaity from political motive* when fc» found that th* European support was eawnUal to hi* supremacy, and among royal dttadm of tha faith fee may be

compared rather to Constantino thin any other, Thakoinbau was a remarkable looking mils, and vm always every inch a chief. Ho stood folly 6ft high, nod hid a commanding figure, which eves is old we bore traces of the great personal strength which distinguished him in fat* youth. He *u not by Mty m»an» til-looking. The ordinary expression of hi* face vu that of a clever and extremely cirafty and astute Fijian, la May, 1867, Thakombau «h proclaimed Kicg by the white residents, and Hi* Ma* jetty grunted a constitution, but it remained practically a dead letter, Two yean later, bring pressed by the American Government for a claim of £9OOO, the King accepted an offer f torn the Polynesia Company, formed in Melbourne, to pay the d*k% in return for certain grant* of lands. The money m paid, but the company n«Ter succeeded in securing possession of the land, and when the island* were annexed to Great Britain the Imperial Government ignored the company** existence, recognising only the claima of the few ibareholderi who were in possession of the land they had selected. In the year 1071 a Government wat formed by the leading white resident*, but it met with great opposition from many of the settlers, and it had a Tory chequered exigence, until an end wa* pat to its career by the annexation of the iilandi in September, 1874. In surrendering hie country, Thakombau woe chiefly iciluenced by the difficulties of Me Government, and the fear of Maafn, a powerful Tongan ohwf, settled in the Windward part of the group, who aimed at the eonqecst of the country. After an unconditional eeeiion of the island! had been made to Sir Hercules Bobinson as the Queen's represent stive, exKing Thakombau, who wae allowed a liberal Srasion, accepted an invitation from Sir ercnles to visit him in Sydney with two of his tons. Thakombau spent three weeks in Sydney, and was greatly delighted with all ho saw. Tho visit, however, was the cause of a terrible disaster to his countrymen. When the old chief returned to his satire land he vu ill with the measles, t he disease spread rapidly, and daring the six months it ravaged the country 40,000 Fijian* died of it The Natives naturally regarded this fearful visitation as an indication that the gods were die* pleased at the surrender of. their country to foreigners. The closing years of Thakombau's life were uneventful. He outlived bis great rival Maafn, and he was surrounded to the last with a sufficiency of comfort and dignity to prevent him ever regretting the adoption of the policy which allied his interests with those of the white man.