THE TONGAN ISLES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 1187, 9 December 1924, Page 6

THE TONGAN ISLES.

SOAIE INTERESTING FACTS. ' ADDRESS TO ROTARIAN CLUB. Somo interesting information about the Tongan Islands, gleaned by the Rev. AI. A. Rugoy Pratt on a visit of five weeks’ duration tome two years ago, wus given by that gentleman in an address to the Rotary Glub th-day. Rotarian 11. L. Young was in tho chair. Tho Friendly Islands, as they were named by Captain Cook, consisted of about 150 small isles, separated into three main clusters, stated the speaker. For the most part they were of coral formation, although a few were of ’ volcanio origin. The main cluster was Tongatabu, where tho capital, Nukualofa, was situutod. The other two clusters were Uaapai and Haafuluhao, the iatter bf which was better known as Vavau, from tho name of its largest island, the chief town Of which. was Neiafu. The harbour of Vavau was one of the finest und most picturesque in the world, and, in the speaker’s opinion, was better than that of Sydney. Its shores for inileu were of transcendent beauty, with a wonderful succession of bold headlands, receding bays, glistening benches and enchanting grassy plots. Behind these were to be seen natural orange groves, plantations of graceful cocoanut palms and of bananas and a tangle of luxuriant tropical growths of exquisite variety of brilliant colours. “From the Tongan Islands it is not possible to export fruit of any kind, owing to the insect pests,” stated All- Pratt who udded that, on these islands, the best oranges in the Pacific were grown. AN' INTELLIGENT RACE. The people of Tonga were allied to tho Alaori race; their complexion was almost the same, and they were of splendid physique. Tho language of the Tongan people was cognate to that of the Alaori race, a fact., that, was evidenced by the similarity in meaning of many words in the two tongues. The Tongans were an extremely intelligent people, and had been able to absorb many of the higher forms of education. They possessed a genius for mathematics and phonography. The educational system .of Tonga was partly in the hands of the .Government, but mostly under the control .of. the churches. The averago tourist, who took the round trip,, saw little of tho islands, only the three chief ports being touched at. SIGHTS FOR THE TOURIST. Some seven miles from Nukualofa was the interesting villuge of Koluvai, where in tho centre wus to be found a few ironwood trees, which were the resort of vampire bats, commonly culled flying fexes. The speaker had seen hundred's of thousands of these suspended from the branches, to which they clung with their heads downwards. 1 When disturbed they made a- cry that somewhat resembled that of a child- in distress.

At llautu the speaker had been presented by the natives with a “robber crab,” .which in shape was not unlike an immense lobster, 'ibis species of crab climbed the tall cocoanut trees, husked a number of nuts with its mighty claws and threw them down to the ground, regaling itself on the kernel of the broken nui. The crab was considered by the natives a rare table delicacy. At Houma an awe-inspiring sight greeted tho tourist. The action of the sea had undermined the rugged corul chits of the coast-line. As the rolling wave approached the shore, the former disappeared for a moment, and then with a sudden roar and a Joud hissing sound si oies cf columns of water shot like geysers through the vents and blowholes that perforated the rock. The columns rose to a considerable height,- often 40 or 60 feet, and then fell in graceful showers into cavities that had been hollowed out in tire coral. At the village of Niutoua there was situated a remurkable trilithon of immense coral rocks, set up as an arch, known to the natives .as Haainoga-oAlaui. The origin of tiiis archway was lost in antiquity, but it recalled that at Stonehonge, to which it was far superior owing to the fact that the top piece was mortised into the uprights, which were loftier than the Stonehenge supporting pillars. How, when and by whom these immense rocks were hewn and by what inechanicul means they were raised into position was one of the mysteries' of science. Nearby was the burial place of tile kings of Tonga, and it was thought that some past civilisation hud been responsible for the erection of this • interesting archway. Mr Pratt concluded after making brief reference to the life, customs and occupations of the natives. On the motion of Hotarian 11. E. J'ncey, a hearty vote of thanks was accrjded the speaker.