Centenary of Fiji A Great Occasion

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 11, 14 January 1936, Page 9

Centenary of Fiji A Great Occasion

PICTURESQUE CELEBRATIONS Hundreds of excited islanders waded out into the surf at the island of Lakemba to welcome more than 400 visitors—Methodists and their friends—who journeyed in the steamer Katoomba* to attend the centenary celebrations. Rev. A. Wesley Amos, who accompanied tho party, describes the impressive coromoniess.

Though Tasman is known to have passed through Fiji in tho 16th century and Cook to have visited Vatoa, which ho named Turtle Island, a century later, historians accept October 12, 1835, as tho beginning of European settlement in Fiji. Standing in the triangle in Suva beneath the leafy shade of a giant “ivi" (Island chestnut) is an old monument testifying to tho fact that Revs. William Cross and David Cargill landed at Lakemba on October 14, 1835. As a matter of fact, the diary of William Cross says that they arrived on October 11, but landed on the 12th. The centenary celebrations were arranged to be held at Lakemba, 160 miles due east,of Suva. This is the headquarters of the Windward group called Lau, which means “smitten," so named because of its windswept nature. It is the centre of an archipelago of 60 islands accommodating 8000-odd natives called Lauans. The people are hybrids, the product of the union of the Polynesian and Melanesian peoples. Here the Tongan adventurers came several centuries ago to obtain tho splendid war canoes built by the native ship builders from the hardwoods that abound in the forests of theso islands Numbers of them remained, and tho present native is- the virile product; taller and fairer than tho Fijian, .bearing the proud carriage and independent spirit of the Tongan, blended with the courtesy, generosity, and vivacity of the Fijian. .

'■! :The Visitors. Two thousand-odd of these islanders foregathered ;at Tubou for the great occasion. Several hundred pure Tongans fr.om'Lomaloma, in the Exploring Islands, joined them. It was there that the powerful Tongan chief Ma’afu settled and subdued tho group just prior to the cotton period, of tho roaring ’sixties. From the Commonwealth of Australia, New Zealand, and Tonga another body of visitors arrived by the cruise ship T.S.S. Katoomba. For the first time in history a large steamer (9500 tons) visited this out-of-the-way place. Certainly no such vessel had ever ventured so near tho dangerous reefs that surround this little island, only nine miles long, where the sea is too deep to plumb, and no safe anchorage is to be found. With the aid of the natives 401 visitors landed safely in about four hours. They were conducted to their picturesque leafy quarters, built for the occasion of poles and bamboos, and covered with green plaited cocoanut leaves. They were beautifully clean and cool, with a delicious aroma as of new-mown hay. The floors were covered with bracken fern and newly-woven mats. A picturesque canteen had been built, decorated with tropical blooms, and hung with huge bunches of bananas. The food supply was conjointly provided by our steamer cooks and our Fijian hosts, and meals were served in the open air.

The last to come ashore was her Majesty Queen Salote Tubou (Dame C.8.E.), of Tonga, who is distantly connected with tho chief tribes of this group. Her boat carried her to a large new canoe in the bay which ferried her to the sandy beach, where the sturdy Fijians lifted the canoe bodily and carried the Eoyal visitor up to the entrance of the town. Here she entered a gaily-decorated arch and stepped on a newly-woven mat of honour held by two rows of women over the whole length of some 400 yards. Accompanied by chiefs and Tongan visitors, the procession moved slowly forward, passing the “Langis" (tomb), where the chief Finau was buried last year. Wearing a mourning mat, the Queen paused whiie her Tongan courtiers chanted a dirge. The procession led to her quarters, whero she was received by “ Bandi-n:-Nayou"—the widow of the chief. Thence she was conducted to the Native Council House for a series of most interesting celebrations. The presentation began with ten. w'haies’ teeth—the symbolic instrument of Fiji and accompanied by much ritual. Then followeu the offering of the bunch of cocoanuts, typifying tho fruit anil food of the land, the platter borne by comely maidens, carrying lighted torches, signifying their readiness to serve her Majesty.

The elaborate ritual concluded with the ceremonial drinking of the Kava (Piper Mathysticum). This was followed by a great exchange of goods. The Queen's yacht from Tonga had brought 1000 bottles of aromatic cocoanut oil, much prized for the anointing of faces and bodies, and many hundreds of woven mats and fathoms of “tappa" (paper cloth). In return, many huge wooden bowls, fine samples of native craftsmanship, were presented to the Queen and her party. After presentation of large quantities of native food —turtles, pigs', bullocks, fish, yams, taro, tapioca, etc. —the evening meal followed.

That night the full moon rose in a clear tropic sky on a picturesque scene, with 400 European visitors and several thousand natives seated on mats on the spacious green in the centre of the town to witness the “mekes” (folk dances) by gaily decorated youths and maidens. For several hours the visitors were entertained' in a way they had never known before. In return the organiser of the cruise (Eev. Eichard Piper) arranged a delightful surprise for the islanders. A huge public speech system was erected, and with an excellent selection of records music was amplified to the delight of the thousands. The device was then employed for a monster service of thanksgiving, conducted by the chairman of the Fiji district (Eev. E. L. McDonald). The visitors retired to rest to the accompaniment of the happy laughter and enchanting singing of their hosts. Lak- 1 emba is known for its mosquitoes., and

tho visitors went prepared with nets, Chinese joss-sticks, and syringes of preventives. Strangely enough, they were not needed, for scarcely an insect was felt or heard. A Sunrise Service.

To commemorate the landing of the pioneer missionaries, a service was held on the historic spot at daylight next morning. The weather was ideal, and at least 3000 people sat round on the seashore. Among tho visitors were no fewer than six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren of the pioneer Cross, the septuagenarian daughter of the martyred missionary, Baker, and dozens of other relatives of early missionaries. The service was conducted by the European chairman and translated into Fijian and English as required. The addresses of leading chiefs and native missionaries were very impressive. A son of a former warrior dramatically pointed to tho great hill, "Kedekede,” and said, "Our fathers lived in the caves of that mountain in fear, but we live on the beach in safety." They all bore testimony to the change Christianity had brought to their land on this historic spot 100 years before. After a brief adjournment for breakfast a larger assemblage gathered before the doors of the new ■ Cross and Cargill Memorial Church for the dedicatory service. The opening was performed by a stately woman—the widow of the late Chief Finau. As the great doors swung’open the vast congregation poured in, filling every corner. Several hundred persons were unable to obtain admittance.

The final ceremony at,Lakemba was the unveiling of the black marble monuments to the chiefs, Finau'and Ma’afu, on the beautiful tombs, set in green lawns and planted with, colourful cro : tons ,and tropical flowers.