Ten Months in the Fiji Islands (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1864 Excerpt: ... owe the retention of their authority to the aid of the Tongans. In 1855, King George arrived in Fiji with a large fleet of canoes, to take away a magnificent canoe that had been presented to him by Thakombau. On his arrival he found Thakombau struggling against a very formidable rebellion, and he at once gave him assistance. The storming of the town of Kamba by the Tongans, on this occasion, was a very gallant achievement. Mara, the chief of the rebels, who only escaped by running over the sharp shells on the reef, and by swimming to a neighbouring town on the coast, said to a native teacher he met, " The man is a fool who fights with the Tongans. I fired on them twenty or thirty times; but without effect; they rushed on; they are gods, and not men." Having re-instated Thakombau in his authority, King George next visited the island of Taviuni, where a war was-raging, consequent on the murder of the late chief of r Thakaundrove by three of his sons. He enquired which of his other sons had the best claim, and thereupon caused him to be installed as the new chief. A considerable force of the insurgents withdrew to the small island of Eambi, to the north of Taviuni, whither King George followed them, and sent on shore a small party of Tongans, headed by one of his chiefs, and accompanied by a Fijian chief of rank, to propose peace. Shortly after a messenger came off to invite the King to land. Suspecting treachery, he questioned the man, who, fearing all would be discovered, leaped overboard and swam ashore. The death-drum was immediately beaten, and the King's peace party on shore all killed. This treacherous act greatly incensed the Tongans, who landed at once on the island, and, in spite of the entreaties of the King, executed a terrible revenge. ...