Page:Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, New York, 1860.djvu/245

 BEarNNINGS — LAKEMBA AND EEWA. 215 about those beautiful islands, and the wonderful work of God wrought there.* The Tongans seem to have always been good sailors, and held intercourse with several other groups, especially with Samoa, the people of which resembled them in colour and general physical formation, as well as in some of their customs, while there was a remarkable similar- ity in the language of the two groups. But the Viti Islands — or, as the Tongans call them, Fiji — presented great attractions in the fine timber which they supplied so abundantly for building their canoes, and the large sails and masts for which they Avere famous. The trade-wind is favourable for the voyage from Tonga, which occupies from two to four days, the distance to the nearest Fijian land being scarcely two hundred and fifty miles. While passing, also, to and fro in their own or neigh- bouring groups, the strong prevailing wind often drifted the Tongans to those dreaded shores of Fiji, where, according to a horrid law, all who escaped from shipwreck were killed and eaten. Some, however, of these unwilling wanderers were otherwise received. It has lately come to light that a distinct tribe of Tongan origin exists more than a thousand miles from their mother country, in one of the islands of the New Hebrides. They have sprung from the Chief and crew of a canoe that drifted long ago from the Friendly Islands, and was supposed to have been lost at sea. At Eewa and Kandavu there is a peculiar class of natives called " Tonga-Fiji," whose forefathers came there from Tonga in the remote past. This mixed race has become connected with Eewa ; they have lost the language, but, until lately, retained some of the cus- toms, and worshipped the gods, of the Friendly Islands. The largest immigration of Tongans has always been to Lakemba, the chief island in the windward group, and to which about twenty smaller islands are tributary. Here, consequently, these people are found in the greatest number. Drifted there, or coming to build ca- noes, or to trade, they had to wait for a change of wind before they could return ; for their craft could do but little at beating, especially against the strong breeze which generally blows when there is a change, and which frequently drove them back again to Lakemba for shelter, where they had to remain for months, and, in some instances, even for years. In drifting, a canoe becomes unmanageable, and sails and rig- ging are often lost, so that the crew Would be without the means of effecting their return. Here they soon fixed themselves. Although it is the least savage part of Fiji, yet wars were frequent in the district, and the strangers secured the favour of the prevailing powers by fight- Hamilton, Adams &, Co. 1S55.
 * Tonga and the Friendly Islands : icith a Sketch of their Mission Eistory. London :