FIJI. TROUBLES WITH THE NATIVES AND SETTLERS.

Timaru Herald, Volume IX, Issue 342, 5 September 1868, Page 2

FIJI. TROUBLES WITH THE NATIVES AND SETTLERS.

[FROM : a: cobresbondbnt.] August 1, 1863. Fiji a -short time ago was too good to lose sight of; now I fear it is too bad for a good many to live m with ppaco and aafety. The future prospects are rather discouraging, aud former, bright expectations clouded, many having left their- homes for safety. No doubt, reports, of these .troubles will be overdrawn, but even taking a mild view of affairs, I do not advise .any one at present to make a change from a peaceable home to come to thia, country until more favourable aceounta reach them. ' Within tjbe .last three months we. have had plenty of fighting amongst theae islanda. . First, King Thakambou, of Viti Leru, was arrayed against the mountaineers, or " heathen ' 'dbvilß," as the' Christian natives call thim jand after losing a good many of his chiefs of rank , ho , had. .to run; away— to fight another time, but bas mado little preparation since for another l?ats,le. >;Npxt came the King of Thakandrovi Tiri-Oakau, who fought against 1 some of -his. subject* on Vanua Levu, for refusing to contribute their share of the demands made .bjr him by virtue of bis right aa chief. This contribution ia generally looked on by natives aa sacred as rent to a landlord after Engliah fashion. I know the latter chief's territory well, and visited the district , at the time of the fighting. Juat at the con* elusion of the fight I entered Matawa Bay, : the seafc.qf the/war, and had. the aatistaction of counting sixty-three canoes returning with the anny-vjuet as prond as victorious savages could be. : Some of the canoea voontained five men, samo ton,, twenty, forty, and up to 250, „ but only two' of the latter sire. . The army ' may hare nbtnbcred m all upwards of 8000, ; who haid conquered 8000 heathone, or "devils" as they, are called. Ono of the towns m the mountains tbey liad great difficulty m taking, having to -cut a road half a chain wide for aeveral miles, the buah being ao thick that they conld not travel through it. Tui Cakau haa a deputation as a warrior who frightens his enemies. He, is young— about thirty -five years of age — has gobd senso, as woil as pluck und perseverance, and would not leave ' the district until he had thoroughly conquered hia enoinies. I tried to find out the number of tho " devils" killed, but this puzzled me. The. numbers given were from 100 upwarda. , Tui Cakau lost only three, besides a few i wouuded. The " devils" after being subdued ; camo to beg pardon. They were forgiven, i and ordered to 'leave their mountain towns i and come and live otr tho coast, so thai Tui ' Cakau could have his "eyes on them for tho i future. .. i' King Thakambou's style of fighting' is vcty ; different to thia. In the recent fight he had, - he loat a good many of hia army through bad > "management, or bad generalship. He ran i away,; and haa never gone near hia enemies ' since; 'He is tolerably shrewd, however, and I aent for Tui Cakau about a fortnight since to > assist bim to fight at Viti Levuia. " Tui -, 47akau .replied,;" Yes,. I will come, and bring ' my men, and fight your enemies toi I coqqior i them, or never return ; but I muat have my i own way,, and fight after my own fashion. ;' Theso are 'my termß." The terms were i accepted. i But these troubles tare not now confined I amongst the natives themselves, for on tho . i Rewat Jttreir the settlers have been threatened. 1 The natives wiah to drive the settlers away ; from ihat locality; and at one town about >. fifty nileaj up-fth<j[ river, strong language has . been uaed to the settlers; ao violent indeed, : that many complaints were lodged with the >. JR^ißh-.CWnJnl.'vOl.lLS.fehaUengfflCi beibg ' there, three boats were aent np the river with 95 men and' officers, and about 25 settlers, to burn the town, but not to molest tho natives unless fired on by them.' Shells were thrown . into the town, and the .natives aU ideate* out, when the marines and sailors landed, and burnt the plaoe. On returning to their boats the natives fired on them from the bush and scrub, and kept up the fire nntil the boats retired furtker down the •river.' Tbe>ndtHfes call thia retreat running away, and are! now worse than 'ever. One -marine was wounded badly, and one aether was ahot A few, others were Struck by spent balls, but' not imm&y 'injoredU -' "• .--. , . i.-AA '>■■ hm.;:'i Thia retreat baa dope much harm. The , TQngneae.boaaitillJtoßldaxiOM^ a British man-of-war, because the captain was IDled on-shore" anatheTsb^ ISBrmakout inflicting any punishment. It is v^ry diretent with W' French or American authorities. Theydo inot, trea^ .the nat^vea, ao;4enien|tly, . and are therefore, morerespected. ' „ ; i War here'ia aomethihg ' like waVih lew ; There ia no onande adf fightmgfthe nativet on open ground abonld it come toithe waett^-Xha- ialaada oriUi- -Auk vegetation, scrub, and bush, and only a native can "find" kis way through" if " It ia reported that the' Oballenger haw - left tho giuup 1 "if ao latnaorry. '•''«• I I The planters onthe upper part ofthe Bawa Jiver have left /iheir plantations,- aSid<af g»od any have been biirn^d down^and tk/eofton planto deatroyed bjr the natives. 'We tfcre all'taUd^g of a huge export jX ijot^m *xt year &6m Fiji, but mivr many thfittsaabt of pounds will be loat Several' of thb planters if they do not" get back soon will loai tbeir ■IL Laat' night abont twelve Bet Hera, 4ho %djeft their plantations on Jthe Bewa Brjer, «mw3 m Levukiu A few"at3l rinnam^ and declare they will not leave untalfliey are driven oft after expending their laat canister of powder. *~ 7\ On the Naridi coast, the natives are fight* ing— the Christians against the heathens. It ia reported that the latter have threatened to attack the whites, as they were helping the SCS&atJanu • One er two aettleraleft through fear, bnt were not driven off. . OO the Island Yanganga, Mnthuata coaat, one white waa reported at th* Consulate a s fow daya ago aa killed, and another. woundejjL The particulars I am unable to give. Such dialarbagceacare, hqwerwr generally cams! "by hew comers, who do not understand Ake natives, and get. into troubles witii them. Bye and bra I l^qpe to; Auaijsh jQae Timaru Herald witii full particulars Ot tbeae disturbances, bnt little ia 'known at present beyond the fkcta I have given. „ ' < The cotttto 'crojW promise widl 'both m quality and quantity, and, thp disturbance hss -prOifed^ sn • linfortnnato tJt&SIe 1 fitar^our beantiful islands; but I am hopeful that it will all Uow over, and confidence again be rostojaajL,. :, iU . „,.■■., r ; i..i- rJn ij^. > _j »v,,, ri .-.f-