The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-06-21
THE FIJI ISLANDS.
Remarkable Transformation from
Cannibalism to Civilization.

The Present State of the One-Time Most
| What Gov. Thurston Has Accom-
| pIished.
| The sudden and remarkable trans
formation in national life and manners
which has caused Japan to cast aside its
| traditional inertness and conyentionalism,
and assume high place among the lead
ing Powers of the East has been paral-
leled, in minor degree, in Fiji, where
the cannibalistic propensities of past
generation have become replaced by tastes
and habits more in harmony with the
principles of modern civilization, al
| though traces of the old savage times yet
linger in the more secluded portions of
the Fijian archipelago; for Fiji is not
single island, but group of about $50,
of which about eighty are inhabited,
many of the others being mere rocks
Suva, the seat of Government, is on Ma
Viii (LevuGreat Fiji), the largest of the
islands, embracing an area of about
eighty seven miles in length by fifty four
in breadth. Levuka, the former capital,
is on Ovalau, one of the smaller islands,
being only eight miles in length by seven
in width On these two islands the white
population is concentrated and the pro-
gress of the industrial arts most apparent.
The material progress of Fiji dates
from the time that it became COLONY
under the British flag, in September,
1874, little more than twenty years ago
One of those largely instrumental in
effecting this change, which transferred
the supreme power from an ex-cannibal
monarch to British official representing
her MaJesty's Government, was Mr. (af-
terward Sir John Bates) Thurston, at
present Governor of Fiji and High Com
missioner for the Western Pacific. Mr..
late John Noel Thurston, of Bath, and
belongs to one of the Oldest families in
the United Kingdom, was born January
81, 1886, and in early life went to sea,
reaching Australia in 1858, when he was
II years of age. In Sydney, young
Thurston heard great deal concerning
the romantic and then little known
Louis Becke's most fascinating nara
tives, and the future destinies of which
were so largely affected by MIR. Thurston's
action and policy.
In 1868 Mr. Thurston arranged an ex-
ploring expedition to several groups of
Islands. but in 1864 his vessel was wrecked
during hurricane off the coast of
Rotuma, now British crown colony,
and the whole of his botanical collections
photographs, journals, ETC., lost. After
Il delay of several months no vessel be-
ing procurable, Mr.. Thurston reached
Fiji, where he was invited by the British
Consul, Capt. Henry NJ Jones, V. c.,
to join the consular staff, with view to
becoming acting Consul. In 1867 Lord
Consul in Fiji. 1t was about this time
that British settlers, attracted by the
high prices obtained for Fijian cotton,
began fiocking into Fiji where they en-
deavored to set up q law for themselves
For about four years the time of Mr.
Thurston was fully occupied in maintain
ing order in a land where there were no
laws and no law courts. He accompanied
Cakaubau-the name is variously spelt-
when the latter, then the most powerful
chief in Fiji, with a strong force invaded
Ma VIII Lew for the purpose of punish
ing the murderers of a missionary, the
Rev Thomas Baker, and his native FOL
lowers.
In 1871, during the absence of Mr..
Thurston, who had relinquished his CON
sular duties in order to become a cotton
planter, Cakaubau was induced by a
number of white settlers to proclaim
himself King of Fiji, and establish gov
eminent. This step, however, instead of
securing law and order, resulted in riot
and confusion, during which it was
threatened to burn Levuka, which had
become the Fijian capital Mr.. Thurston
lost no time in returning to Fiji, where
he was invited to take charge of the
native administration, the next greatest
chief in Fiji promising to join Cakaubau
in supporting him But it was found i'm
possible. to control the white population,
eager to gain possession of the soil and
reduce the natives to state of slavery
and, finally, he made such strong repre-
sensations to the British Government
that FIJI, with the full consent of the
leading chiefs, was made a crown colony
Since then, the history of Mr.. Thurston
(who was made K. G. M. 6. in 1897
has been that of Fiji. He was several
times Entrusted with the Government of
Fipi before being appointed Governor,
which office he now holds, with that of
High Commissioner and Consul General
for the Western Pacific, his appointment
dating from 1887. Lady Thurston is the
daughter of a leading New Sou tn Wales
colonist, and has come on a visit to Eng
land with her husband The Sketch.