1276 AUSTRALASIA ILLUSTRATED. 



despotism, supported by an hereditary aristocracy. The different grades were the Han 

 or families of the blood royal ; the Hoiiciki, or chiefs ; the Muas, or gentry ; the Mata- 

 bnlcs, or official attendants ; and the Titas, or common people. Professional employments 

 such as carpenters, fishermen, undertakers, doctors, etc., were strictly hereditary. Rank 

 was hereditary, and women sometimes held the reigns of Government in their own right. 

 The succession to the regal power was regulated by certain well-known laws, and did 

 not necessarily pass to the eldest or indeed to any son, the brother of the deceased 

 being generally considered as having the prior claim. The present king, George Tubou, 

 is one of the most remarkable men in the South Seas. He was first called Taufaahan, 

 and was originally the king of the Haabai Group only. In 1833, he was nominated by 

 Zephaniah Finau Ulukalala (the Finoic ///'/ of Mariner) when dying, as his successor, 

 and on the death of that ruler he was elected by the chiefs as king of Haafuluhao 

 (Vavau). He thus held the sovereignty over the two groups of Haabai and Vavau. At 

 this time, his father's uncle, Josiah Tubou (Alca-niotna], was king of Tonga, and on his 

 death, in 1845, he also declared that King George of Haabai and Vavau should succeed 

 him, he being the rightful heir of Tuboutoa, the preceding king. To this the chiefs 

 agreed, and King George was unanimously chosen as Tuikatwkuboln and king of the 

 whole Group. The inaugural ceremony took place at Bagai in Hihifo, on the 4th of 

 December, 1845. He is now (1891) about ninety-three years of age. The supreme 

 power was formerly held by the Tni ToJiga, who was, as the name implies, the king of 

 the whole group, and was also supposed to exercise divine rights and privileges. The 

 title and position are, however, now abolished. The present Assistant-Premier, Mr. Basil H. 

 Thomson, and Mr. Alexander M. Campbell, Collector of Customs and Postmaster-General, 

 are the only European Members of the Government. 



The customs of the Tongan people differed but little from those of the other 

 Eastern Polynesian peoples, except, perhaps, in the land tenure, and the high position 

 accorded to women. All lands were supposed to be the property of the king. The 

 great chiefs held them by hereditary right, but subject in all cases to the will of the 

 king, to whom they rendered military assistance. The people, through these chiefs, had 

 also to pay tribute. Servile homage was paid to all superiors, particularly to those of 

 very high rank. The etiquette to be observed when meeting a chief, or coming into 

 his presence, was very clearly understood, and any breach of it was at once visited 

 with very summary punishment. No common man would dare to sit in a more elevated 

 place than the chief, or to come into his presence with a wreath round his head, or 

 with his hair wet, or even to remove anything from above where the chief was sitting. 

 A commoner was expected to sit down at the road-side, and, if carrying a burden, to 

 lower it from his shoulders, and make a detour from the path whilst the chief \vas 

 passing. Many of the words and 'salutations used in addressing chiefs were peculiar, and 

 could not be used to a commoner. The deliberative* assemblies of the chiefs were 

 conducted with great ceremony, and according to the strict rules of procedure and 

 etiquette. Their weapons were simple, and consisted only of spears, javelins, clubs, bows 

 and arrows, and slings. They constructed strong and well-arranged fortifications, consisting 

 of powerful stockades defended by earth-works, and in besieging such places they well 

 understood the method of approaching by trenches and pits. It was in attacking a 



