Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-12-02

THE TONGA ISLANDS.
What Mr. Bates says AbOut i
King and Hts People.

WhAt VIE Bates says AbOut Hts
King and Ats People.
To the Washington correspondent OF
the New York Tribune, George 81. Bates,
Esq, who was sent by Secretary of State
Bayard on diplomatic mission, gave
some information respecting the Tonga
Islands, with whose king he effected q
commercial treaty. Mr.. Bates says that
the Tonga group, situated about 500 or
600 miles southwest of the Samoan
Islands, is one of the few remaining
groups in the Pacific which have not been
absorbed by one of the European powers.
There has been strong desire, he thinks.
at times on the part of New Zealand
to annex these islands, but they
have had an autonomous govern
ment of their own, the leading spirit o.
which is Mr.. Baker, a Wesleyan mission
ary, who is called the premier. King
George" as he is called by the few
Europeans living on the islands, is over
so years of age. A picture in the posses
sion of Mr.. Bates shows him to be- u man
with strong features-half negro, halt
Malay in type, with snowy white hair and
beard and determined look in his eye.
He is dressed in the conventional uniform
of some military officer OF high rank in
Europe. Though Christian now, his
reign dates back to the era when fat
missionary or SO was considered deli
cacy which every well ll-regulated Tonguese
hoped to attain in this world. In fact
the old King is said to have done good
deal of fighting in his day, though il is
not on record that the eating aforesaid
interfered greatly with his early digest
on or subsequent greatness. His
family name is Tubou. He speaks
no language except his y native
'ngue, but in conversationhe is animated
and fluent. He lives in large, comfort
able two story frame house, built after
the European fashion. At night he as
cends to the second-story to sleep-but
the Queen, who has dread of earth
qunkes, remains prudently below. The
heir,apparent, or "Orown Prince,n as he
is called, is o grandson of the King, bis
son having diGd several years ago, He
is at present governor of one of tine
islands "King George is said to be
one of the most accessible of men-visit-
ing foreigners call upon him as they
would upon their neighbors at bone.
They are received by him os rule III
sort of throne room where he reeliues
half-standing, half-sitting, against
high backed chair OF European make.
The products of the islands are
similar to those Of the south Pacific
generally The oranges raised on the
Island of Yavau are among the finest in
the world. The principal export is copra;
which is the dried kernel of the cocoanut
from which is expressed the cocoanut oil
of commerce. With reasonable access to
markets there is no reason why the Islands
in this part of the Pacific should not be
available for the cultivation of any Of the
tropical productions. At Eukualofa, the
capital, there are q large number of for
eigners residing and doing business. The
government has built fine wharf with
storehouse and there is regular steam COM
naunication with Auckland and Fiji; but
as the steamers make tour of the islands
going from Tonga to Samoa, and, in some
instances to Tahiti before returning to
Auckland, they are not available for the
shipment of perishable goods from Tonga.