The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-10-30
A MONARCH'S MASTER.
How a Manila Man Came to Control the
Destinies of the FIJI Islands.

Destinies of the FIT Islands.
1t is a strange, but significant fact
that even the most despotic rulers at
times rely upon some other lowlier
power for aid and counsel, but it has
remained for the canuibal Kings of
FIJI to acknowledge as absolute mas
tiers men of most humble origin. In
the year 1904 Fits greatest chieftain
was Ma Ulivou, known by the further
title of Vuni Valu or Source of Power,
a title which each successive chieftain
also held. In that year the brig Elisa
was wrecked off Nairai reef, and
among the passengers and sailors
who escaped ashore were some
runaway convicts, prominent among
whom were Charley Savage
and Paddy O'Connor Like all saw
age countries, tribal wars were con-
tinuaily occurring, and Vuni Valu was
menaced by seven other powerful
chiefs. of whom the bold Verata was
the leader. But the cute convicts saw
their Opportunity, and, aided by pow
der and shot, they ranged themselves
upon the apparently weaker side, as
sisting the great chief Bau so much
and causing such havoc with their
rusty guns among the followers of
Verata that the white men soon be-
came the masters of the soil, and,
while Vuni Valu nominally rnled the
country, Charles Savage actually ruled
him.
But power proved too much for the
criminal gang, and with wild excess of
every kind they gradually loosened
their hold on the vacillating Fiiian
nature. They were feared instead Of
venerated, and six months after their
advent the time was ripe for another
foreign deliverer. 1t was then a still
more unpretent Gus foreigner arrived.
One morning little vessel from Manila
made the Fiiian coast, and the natives
welcomed the sight as if a visit of their
gods. Hundreds of these cannibals
swan out to meet the Loaf, armed with
gifts of every kind, and by every means
in their power implored the three men
who were on board to land at once.
1t was not without grave misgivings
that Antikoi, the Manila captain, at
last consented to be taken to the shore,
but all three men had stout hearts, and
on shore they went. There they re-
ceived frantic greeting from the
natives, who singled out Antikoi, and
from some legendary reason believed
he was the father OF their little gods.
known as Luve-ni-Wai, or children of
the waters. Antikoi saw his oppor-
IN, l.
set himself to assist the chiefs and rid
them of their convict oppressors.
Slowly but surely these white wretches
met their doom. Savage was killed in
1918, and the whole gang of
twenty seven persisted during the
ten or twelve years following, Paddy
O'Connor being spared only on
proof of his abject W aakness and cow
ardice, and therefore his inability to do
harm. So quickly did Antikol lift him
self into absolute popularity that to
gain possession of the anchor of the
vessel in which he arrived wars were
continually occurring, and hecatombs
of lives were lost to gan and regain
possession of the treasure. until the
Manila master had made them under
stand that it was his, and he alone
would keep it. He adopted the nat We
costume, wearing a long sulu of many
folds of chiefs tappa, generally of a
light brown color, with black spots,
and reaching nearly to the feet. Shoes
he had none, but bound his feet with
palm leaf, closely tied around with
reeds. Thus equipped, and with a
variety of weapons, he wonld lead
many fray, striking terror into the
rebel forces, and very often deciding a
conflict with his presence before hardly
blow was struck. When, in 1929, Ma
Ulivou had died, Antkoi still helped
along the fortunes of his successor,
Tanoa; but Tanoa was old and feeble
and the Manila chieftan agreed upon
the exile of the ancient ruler, placing
the son, Cacombau or Thakambau in
his stcad With great barbaric pomp
and show did Antikoi conduct the in
stallation of the new chieftain and he
induced him to take the tie of Tui
Wit, or King of Viii. Now gratitude
succumbed before deepened rever-
ence, and instead of assistant. Antiko
became master of Cacombau and al
his realms.-San Francisco CdH.