The San Francisco call., 1899-07-01
GEORGE OF TONGA
WEDS HIS choice
Hurls Defiance at the
Parliament.
REFUSES TO MARRY OLA
LOVE FOR LAVINIA RESULTS IN
a HAPPY UNION.
Overruling All Customs of His
People,. the South Sea Island
King Sets Good Ex-
ample for Natives.
BY KATE McLENNAN.
Special Correspondence of The Call.

Special Correspondence of The Call.
NUKUALOFA. Tonga. June "a few
weeks ago the members of Parliament
gathered here to select a wife for King
George TubOu II. According to the Ton
gan custom the parents arrange all mar
riages, and the parties interested have
seldom anything to say in the matter,
| While still a child King George was be-
trothed to Ola, very high chieftesS, VINO
has been kept on the island of Niua Tobu
tabu. where she has been guarded as u
sacred maiden. A few months ago she
was brought to Tonga. She is really the
most beautiful girl here, but her expected
| husband in the meantime having fallen
[ in love with Layinia, daughter of kubu,
Minister of Police. told his chiefs that he
| intended marrying her. Parliament was
| held to vote for the future queen. Day
after day the result was the same-Cfa
had the greater number--till the king
wrote a sharp letter saying they could
vote as they pleased, but he would marry
Lavinia or nobody.
Angry words passed, and no one thought
he would dare defy his chiefs, setting at
naught the old customs, but on June |, III
his beautiful chapel, he not only welded
mis- hearts choice but showed progreS
siVe spirit by throwing aside all TonSan
laws in regard to woman, when at the
I close of the marriage ceremony he placed
new golden crown upon the head OF his
kneeling bride, saying as he did so, Ia
vinia, crown thee Queen of Tongl.
making her his COnsOrt and the HfSI
Queen Of the Friendly Islands
1t was the grandest affair ever wit
messed here. Layer after layer of tappa
was spread for a distance of about three
blocks for the bride to walk upon. Her
| trousseau, ordered from Sydney, was most
! elaborate. Her wedding dress of white
satin was trimmed with HOnttOn lace, the
train of which, fully five yards In
! length, was composed of silver and white
heavy brocade 1t was upheld by SIX
| hViE dc sa1 in hi Gil
! in the latest style) and who wore wreaths
! of white blossoms on their heads. Whhe
| the Tongan band was playing the royal
anthem King George TubOu entered, at
tired IN full uniform and wearing robe
| of red, white satin lined and ermlne
trimmed, which was held by two little
pages dressed in red and white velvet,
the Tongan colors. AS he stood with one
hand resting on his throne chair he
! looked every inch a king. He IS an eX-
! traOrdinarily handsome man, SlN IeeL
three inches in height and weighing over
three hundred pounds, with clear, We'll
cut features. He was educated in Auck-
land and speaks English in d very soft
voice and is quite musical, having com
posed many of the Tongan hymns. Aiter
the ceremony grand wedding breakfast
was given. The same afternoon the
palace for the first time, was thrown
open to the public and all Nukualofa at
tended the levee given by their maJestles'
King George is doing much by ms eN-
ample to elevate the Tongans. Hereto
fore hats have been 'tabu, but on th!S
day all the police were dressed IN @ uIII-
form, including helmets. The GoVernors
and native officials appeared II ful morn.
ing costumes and SILK mats, instead OF
mat yaIes as were formerly SS6rn. Nd
bV taking his bride on his arm and plac-
ing her at his table he gave his subjects
a lesson they will never forget, for here
husband and wife do not eat together.
Nearly all the merchandise comes from
Australia, and although American goods
are in demand the cost of transportation
is too great: .Copra is the chief article of
american: mails arrive here via Samoa.
while the latest telegraphic news comes
from Auckland.
Though the British flag is not yet hoist
ed IT is generally believed that secret
treaty has been agreed upon. While allow
ing the islands to govern themselves. as
formerly, England will allow no interfer-
ence by any otheS power, war vessel
being always in close proximity. There is
no poverty, and when q TOngan sells his
copra he spends his money rapidly. saving
nothing and is perfectly happy when the
missionary collection day comes, as he
then can throw all his dollars into the
washbasin used here instead of collection
plates.
three years will you permit me. in jus
tice to the parties concerned, to refute
most emphatically a scurrilous article
published in a late issue of a paper and
dated Victoria, B. c., April 20. The ar
ticle in question is one tissue of fabrica-
tions from beginning to end. This gov
ernment does not owe money. Salaries
are paid quarterly and there is generally
a balance in the treasury. But last year
and the previous one being very dry not
much copra was made and salaries were
DELAYED one quarter. Second-One ar1-
Gle of the Tongan law is that no trader
can trust a native, as the latter can not
be sued so if a trader gives him credit
he does so at his own risk. a number Of
German traders did give credit, and then
sent for their Consul to come and have
this law repealed. but the government
refused to grant his request and he re-
turned to Samoa. Sateki, the Premier,
wished TO resign on account of i'll health
and advanced age. but the King requested
him to remain in office and he did so.
The names given by the writer of the
two young chieftesses proves that he has
been made a fool of by his informant;
King George receives $1,000 per year, and
as he also has a revenue from the thou
sands Of cocoanut trees on his lands, the
copra of which brings s55 a ton, it gives
evidence that he can purchase What ne
wishes and pay for il as well.
The royal yacht is where 1t mas bee14
for months past-lying at anchor in front
of the Palace. Such articles are sour
rilous in the extreme, throwing rtdicule
and discredit on one of the, smallest yet
most ambitious nations in the world. 1t
has aiwavs been entirely under native
ruie and does not owe a dollar of ma