The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-06-06
AN ISLAND KINGDOM.
Tonga. Once Powerful, Now Has a
Population Of 10000 People.


1t is probable that before long there
may appear in Washington represent
ative from "A kingdom OF which few
people have heard, and that Consul
at least may be sent from this country
TO Tonga. The British already have
Consul there, and our interests I'm Sa-
moa, the Philippines and other Pacific
Islands will bring about closer CONNER
cial relations between this ttle-known
kingdom and the United States, as Is
desired by the Tonga King.
Tonga is a civilized ana independent
nation, possibly the oldest in the world,
and the ancestors of the reigning mon
arch have been seated on the throne
from time immemorial." This king
dom Is shrunken In size and power. but
1t once held as tributary provinces all
the island groups in that part OF the
Pacific Ocean. Even in the days OF
Capt Cook, the King OF Tonga, regard
ed Fiji and Samoa as within his do
minions. The King OF Tonga has made
treaties with only two nations, Great
Britain and the United States. A SIN
gular result of this is seen In the
monetary system OF the kingdom, all
accounts being kept not in pounds,
shillings and pence. but in dollars, shil-
lings and pence.
King George Tubou H.. who rules
over IHlS duCJtnt lSidnI fhAnBuolil, says
the Washington Post, came TO the
throne years ago. and he is anxious TO
enter into diplomatic relations with
European nations with a view To in
crease the trade and prosperity of his
nation. He has progressive ideas and Is
said TO have inherited much of his
ability of his great George
Tobou L., whom he succeeded on the
throne.
George j. was a remarkable man. IL
was he who brought Tonga to Its pres
ent state OF civilization. and IL is owing
TO his energy and ability that Tonga
is still an independent kingdom and has
not been "gobbled up" by mere power
full nations.
Tonga is a constitutional kingdom.
the executive power being vested in the
King, and legislative power In an as
sembly. which meets every two years.
This assembly is composed half of here
ditary mobiles and half OF representa-
tives elected by the people. Those Eng
lishmen who are seeking means TO re-
form the House OF Lords might take a
lesson from Tonga. A Tonga noble
holds his seat in the assembly only
during good behavior. III he does not
walk in the straight and narrow path
his seat at a peer Is declared vacant,
but that does not prevent his son, IL
he has one, from trying his hand at
being an hereditary legislator after his
fathers death. Every male citizen
over twenty-one years old can vote,
provided he has paid his poll-tax of 81
and has not been convicted of a felony.
Young King George surrounds him
self with something OF the pomp of
royalty. and when he appears in public
generally wears military uniform.
When his great-grand-father came on
the throne condition of affairs existed
in Tonga similar to the state of affairs
in japan when the present Emperor
succeeded to the throne, The titular
King was called the TUT Tonga. and
was kept I'm seclusion. while the real
power was vestSGTn the family OF Tu-
bou. the head of which family ruled the
Kingdom. From that family. also. Tui
Tonga, was Obliged to take his wife.
A civil war in Japan resulted in the
destruction of the power of the Shotgun
and the establishment OF the. Mikado
as sole monarch. "A civil war in Tonga
resulted i'm the abolition of the Tui Ton
ga and the establishment in sole power
of the head of the house of Tubou, who
took the title of George Tubou l. George
L. had long reign. gave his country a
constitution, and brought the. country
10 it's present state of prosperity.
OF all the islands which the King OF
Tonga once ruled over there remain
to the young George III. only three
groups-Tonga. Haapai and Vavau-
WIN ~ poPuidiioH VI dpOut @V,UOu. ne
ISLANDS are fertile and we'll wooded.
One of the most beautiful OF the trees
growing there lis the tree, fern, which
in those islands reaches it's best devel-
opments. The principal exports OF the
islands are copra and cocoanut oil
Some sugar, cotton and coffee also is
raised. The Tongas are bold sailors
and skillful fishermen. They are proud
and consider themselves, as they really
are, the superiors of the other Polynes-
ians. Their houses are slightly built.
but the grounds surrounding them are
laid out with great care and taste
and the roads of the island are well
built and kept in perfect repair. The
Tongas We're among the first of the
peoples OF the South Pacific to become
Christianzed. and missionary influence
is still powerful in the kingdom. The
tonnage entered yearly at Tonga is
about 10000 tons. mostly British, with
some DANISH, Norwegj m and Swedish
Some whaling is carried on in the wa
ters about the islands by American
ships and the King hopes to see Ameri.