Evening star., 1939-03-05
The Queen Of Tongo
Celebrates Jubilee
By Frederic J. Hdski1,

rule over independent realms and both,
this year. are celebrating jubilees. Queen
Wilhelmina of the Netherlands is cele-
brating her fortieth year on the Dutch
throne, while Queen Salote Tabou is
celebrating her twentieth year as sover-
eign of Tonga. Both queens are regard
ed as unusually enlightened rulers who
have done much for their people.
The newspapers and magazines have
been full of the jubilee of Queen Will
helmlna, but very little has appeared
concerning the Tongan ruler. True, Will
helmina rules over millions in Europe
and in the East and West Indies and
South America, while Salote is monarch
Of only 270 square miles and some 1000
souls, yet one is as royal as the other
and, indeed, 1t might we'll be matter
for the perplexity of genealogists to de-
termine which comes from the longer
and nobler lineage
The Tonga Islands appear on many
maps, alternately, as the Friendly
Islands. This was the name given to
them by Capt. James Cook, the English
navigator and explorer who first visited
the archipelago in l773 He made two
subsequent trips and there still is pre-
served among the royal relics a piece Of
red broadcloth which was presented by
the captain to the Tongan King then
on the throne.
Tonga is the only remaining inde-
pendent kingdom among the Pacific
islands, always excepting the Japanese
empire. 1t is a constitutional monarchy
in that it has a Parliament, cabinet and
also a privy council The islands have
their own currency and issue their own
postage stamps, some of which are much
priced by philatelists The people be-
long to the highest type Of Polynesisn.
They are ivory or cream colored and
have Tarzan physiques. Their native
speech is akin to that of the Samoans,
the Maoris and the Hawaiians, but large
numbers Speak English.
The queen was educated in New Zea-
Land, which lies at about the same lati-
tude as Tonga, and speaks not only
auently but with such familiarity with
the English idiom that, were it not for
her color and other racial characteris-
tics, she would be readily accepted as a
member of an English nation.
Adult literacy is declared to be nearly
100 per cent. The islanders are all
Christians and nearly all Wesleyans. 1t
is asserted that they have survived the
impact of Europeans better than have
many Polynesians. They have not been
decimated by the diseases of white men,
as have some other Pacific islanders
and their birthrate is normal, their
health superb.
Queen Salote is the third of her dynasty
to reign over the islands, but her an
cestry goes many centuries back of the
date when her family came to the throne.
The first ruler of the dynasty was re-
markable figure. He was head Of the
House of Tubou, princely although not
a reigning house. He won the throne by
force and took the name and style of
George I. His queen was Salote. which
is the Tongan form of the English
Charlotte. The present Queen Salote is
Polynesian warrior George I.
The hold Of the dynasty on the Tongan
throne is especially strong today because
the Queen married Prince Tungi. who is
head of a dynasty even older than the
Tubou 1t must be borne in mind that
these Polynesan chief families have
genealogies which put to shame the up
starts of the Almanach de Gotha, who
trace back only thousand or fifteen
hundred years The Tungi dynasty had
aforetime ruled some of the islands, but
the old warrior, George I, had ended
their sway when he brought the entire
group under his own scepter. With the
Tungi prince now the prince consort, the
two dynasties are so firmly welded to-
gether that it is unlikely the line ever
will be displaced by other islanders
While Tonga is independent, since 1900
Great Britain has exercised protection
over it. There is a British agent and
consul in the islands and general pro-
lection is granted by the British high
commissioner for the Western Pacific, at
present Sir Harry Luke. King George vi
of England sent special message of con-
graduation to the Queen on the occasion
of the jubilee and, of course. she has re-
ceived the formal greetings of other gov.
ernments.
Nukualofa is the capital of Tonga.
1t is on the Island Tongatabu or Sacred
Island. The royal palace is a two
storied dwelling, commodious and COM
Portable. 1t has low tower from which
floats the royal standard, rich in her
aldic quarterings. The palace stands
within wall. the gardens running down
to the sea. The royal chapel is within
this enclosure. The royal family is Of
the wesleyan persuasion. There is
Queens chaplain. the brother Of the
prime minister of Australia, at present
holding that post.
During the present reign there has
been a wide extension of educational
facilities. There are public health serv-
ices and many miles of road have been
built For communication among the
islands, radio stations have been erected.
The Queen makes radio broadcasts to
her people on various occasions.
The islands are replete with interest.
The Oldest inhabitant is huge land
tortoise brought to the islands by Capt.
Cook. Although the creature is enter