IMPRESSIVE RITES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 109, 10 May 1934, Page 7

IMPRESSIVE RITES

BURIAL OF FIJIAN CHIEF CEREMONIES AT GRAVESIDE WEIRD LIGHT FROM TORCHES SUVA, April 26. One of the most impressive native funerals seen in Fiji for many years was witnessed recently at Lakemba. the chief village in the Lau Group, when Ratu Alifcreti Finau, Tui Nayau, or paramount chief of Lau, was laid to rest. Owing to the late hour of the arrival of the official party from Suva darkness had fallen before the ceremony concluded. The light from a number of flickering torches threw tho scene into weird relief, and in the semi-darkness the singing of a native choir was strangely impressive. The late chief was not only a native of very high rank, but he had also been a prominent Government official His wife, Andi Moce, is also very highly connected, being a lady of rank from the native capital of Bau and a relative of Thakambau, the last King of Fiji. One of the late nephews is Ratu J. Sukuna, District Commissioner of IjUu. Ratu EulAima is a B.A. of Oxford University, a Barrister-at-Law of the Middle Temple, and a native member of the Fiji Legislative Council. He also has a French decoration, the Medaille Militaire, which was awarded him for bravery when fighting with the French Foreign Legioa before Verdun. Another nephew, Ratu Dovi, is a medical student at the Otago University. He is an amateur boxer of no mean ability, and fought with some success in the University tournaments held last year at Auckland. Interesting Ceremonies. Owing to rough weather the stcamel Malake, with the Governor, Sir Murchison Fletcher, and party on board did not arrive at Lakemba until late in the afternoon of the day of the funeral. The vessel was boarded outside the reef passage by Ratu bukufta, who made the traditional presentation of cavuikclekoie and luvanitaiwako. This consists largely of tho presentation of a tambua, or whale’s tooth. The whale’s tooth is regarded by the Fijians with veneration and it figurew largely in all official presentations nf importance. From the beach to Ratu Sukuna’s house a carpet of tapa cloth was laid and this was lined by the girls of Tubou. His Excellency proceeded over this carpet to the District Commissioner’s house where the ceremony proper took place. This consisted of tho presentation to the Governor of draudrau (coconut leaf mat), vono (two green coconuts), qaloqalovi (tabua) and sevusevu (yaugona root). The latter is the root from which yangona (or kava) is made, and this drink also figures largely in native ceremonial. A yangona ceremony followed, the big bowl being set on a mat in front of the assemblage, while a cord with a bunch of white cowrie shells attached was laid out in front pointing to the Governor us the chief of highest rank present. Following this ceremony a tabua (or tambua, as it is pronounced) was presented on behalf of His Excellency, as well as tabua from the Secretary of Native Affairs, and the districts af Bau and Kewa and other high chiefs. The paramount chief of Fiji, Ratu Popi Seniloli, then presented a tabua. The presentation of a tabua also confers an obligation upon the recipient. Ln thin instance it was presented with a request for the return of the widow, Adi Moce, to her native town of Bau. An address was delivered by His Excellency and translated by the Secretary for Native Affairs. From Ratu Finau’s house, where the body had been lying in state in a sealed coffin for two weeks, a carpet of t'apa, some 500 or 600 yards in length, had been laid to the graveside, this carpet being held down by a largo number of women and boys. The grave was also enclosed in tapa. The coffin was covered with the Union Jack, and volleys were fired over the grave by a firing party comprised of members, of the native platoon of the Fiji Defence Force.