A FEW DAYS IN TONGA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21952, 13 May 1933, Page 21

A FEW DAYS IN TONGA

MONARCHY IN THE ISLANDS

SUBJECTS OF QUEEN SALOTE

(By the United Press Association’s Special Representative.)

NUKUALOFA (Tonga), April 15.

The Tonjran Group of islands makes no claim to be called “the Isles of the Blest,” but some such complimentary description would not have been inapt at the period of the recent visit in the Diomede of his Excellency the GovernorGeneral of New Zealand and Lady Bledisloe. Beautiful days and velvety nights weire the rule, and Nature had contrived to' array the islands in their most attractive tropical garb. The vistas of brilliant foliage and flowering trees were delightful and restful. Each island was a perfect gem set in a tropically blue sea.

A position singular among the island groups of the world is held by Tonga. The islands form an independent kingdom, and are under the direct rule of Queen Salote Tubou, her Ministers and Legislative Assembly, as a limited monarchy. By treaty of friendship and protection signed in 1900 the kingdom was placed under the protection of Great Britain, and a British Agent and Consul was appointed. This official acts in an advisory capacity to the Queen and her Cabinet, and is connected with the Colonial and Foreign Offices of the Imperial Government. He has considerable direct power in regard to certain matters connected with finance and diplomatic affairs. Queen Salote Tubou has the devotion of her subjects and the respect of all communities in the Islands. She is of unusual physique/ being probably about 6 feet 4 inches in height, and well proportioned, so is massive without being in any way unpleasing. She dislikes publicity very much, and her appearances among her subjects are not numerous. When she does' emerge from her palace she bears herself with easy dignity and simple charm, but she does not welcome intrusive curiosity. With her own people she is pleasant and gracious, and it is easy to understand why she has the affection of the Tongans. Her husband is Prince Tugi (pronounced Toongi), who is Premier in the Government. The Crown Prince, born in 1918, the eldest of three sons, is now in Sydney receiving his education. The position of Acting Premier was filled by Solomone Ata, a handsome Tongan of high birth, and a manysided man. He is of fine physique, strongly built, and well set up. His countenance is open and expressive and his eyes sparkle with humour and intelligence. He won the hearts of all the visitors by, his infectious good humour, and it was no surprise to find in him a soundly-informed and well-stored mind. Many tajes are told of him, and it is said that he takes a peculiar joy in convulsing the Cabinet occasionally. The Tongans themselves have a strong resemblance to their kinsmen, the Maoris. They have mobile and expressive features, and their physique resembles that of the Maori race. There is a tendency towards stoutness in advancing years, but the young Tongans, youths and maidens, are stalwart and well-formed people. A smile from a Tongan is something to be pleasantly remembered —a mixture of merry eyes, white teeth, and animated face. The national costume is the vala or lava lava, to which is frequently added a coat or jacket in the case of the men. The women generally are attired in skirts and blouses, but on special occasions the Tongan belle is garbed in European fashion, from her glossy raven head down to silk stockings and high-heeled shoes. Good humour and amiability are characteristics of the race, and though the people are reputedly somewhat difficult in business affairs, patience and a complete absence of haste usually result in something being achieved. The needs of the natives are few, and their lives have little complexity. The crash of copra from £4O per ton on the beach in the boom period to approximately £C per ton did not shake the Tongan’s world about his ears, though it dealt the white trading community in the Islands a serious blow. The Tongan is accommodating himself to the new situation by economising on the luxuries which civilisation brings in its train. He is returning to the simple life. The Royal Palace at Nukualofa might be described in New Zealand as a commodious two-storeyed residence, situated in reasonably spacious grounds adjoining the seafront and only a few hundred yards from the town. The palace is not a pretentious one, but with its red roofs and towers, and its gleaming white walls, it looks well in its appropriate setting. In the palace grounds also the Queen has a private chapel, which is a substantial building. She is a member of the Wesleyan Church, which is easily the predominant religious body in the Tongan Group. The Queen’s guard, some members of which are always on duty at the palace, is a picturesque company of about 30 men, all of fine physique, under the command of a Tongan officer. They wear white tunics and valas. Their drill is done smartly, and discipline appears to be excellent. These young men are not all permanent soldiers, but occupy positions in the Tongan Public Service, performing military duties as required. •The recorded history of Tonga dates from 1450 a.d., but it is firmly believed that the Tongans came from Samoa about 500 a.d. A famous myth relates that Maui obtained from Samoa the fish hook with which he pulled up Tongatabu (Sacred Tonga). The islands were “ discovered ” by two Dutchmen, Jan Schouten and Jacob Lemaire, in 1610. These adventurers had some dealings with the natives, but made a hurried departure when an attack was made on their ship with stones. Abel Tasman was the next visitor, in 1043, but for 124 years after that no European called at Tonga. The long interval was broken by Captain Wallis, who visited the group in 1707, and named Keppell Island. Six years later came the greatest navigator of them all, Captain James Cook, who made return visits in 1774 and 1777. To this day the Tongans point out the spot where Cook made his first landing. From 1777 onwards there was a succession of visits, the names reading like a scroll from the Hall of Fame—Maurelle (1781), La Perouse (1787), Bligh (Bounty, 1789), Edwards (Pandora, 1791), D’Entrecasteaux, and Labilliardiere (1793), and Wilson (Duff, 1797, with the first missionaries). The Old World had established' contact with a profitable and romantic field of trade and adventure, and a new chapter, which is still being written, was opened in the “ rough island story ” of the Tongans. Much of it was writen in blood, but to-day the Tongan is regarded as the moat peaceful and religious of all the island races. The system of Government is patriarchal. The people have their own system of land tenure and occupation. Each youth, on attaining his manhood, is presented with a block of 8£ acres, which he has to plant and work. He is watched, helped, and encouraged. The principal product is copra, and the coconut palm is the main feature of the landscape. There is a splendid State College in Nukualofa, with classrooms, tennis courts, cricket and football grounds all complete. The Tongan takes to Rugby like a duck to water, and plays In lus bare feet. The college,

which celebrated its jubilee last year, is a property that might he the envy of any board of governors in New Zealand. There is no public debt, the Budget is balanced, and there is £150,000 in reserves. Happy Tonga!