Tonga

TONGA, the Tonga or Friendly Islands, an archipelago in the S. Pacific Ocean about midway between Fiji and Samoa. For the geography, etc., see PACIFIC ISLANDS.

History.

In 1616 the vessels of Jacob Lemaire and Willem Cornelis Schouten reached the island of Nivatobutabu and had a hostile encounter with the natives. In 1643 Abel Tasman ar rived at Tongatabu and was more fortunate. The next visitor was Samuel Wallis in 1767, followed in 1773 by Captain Cook.

In 1777 Cook returned, and stayed seven weeks among the islands. In 1799 a revolution broke out, and war dragged on for many years, until finally checked by the strong rule of Taufaahau, who became king in 1845, under the name of George Tubou I.

In 1822 a Methodist missionary had arrived in the island, and others followed. The attempt to introduce a new faith led to re newed strife, this time between converts and pagans, but King George supported the missionaries, and by 1852 the rebels were subdued. The missionaries persuaded the king to grant a constitu tion to the Tongans. A triennial parliament, a cabinet, a privy council, and an elaborate judicial system were established, and the cumbrous machinery was placed in the hands of a "prime min ister," a retired Wesleyan missionary, Shirley Baker. Baker in

duced the king to break off his connection with the Wesleyan body in Sydney, and to set up a State church. Persecution of members of the old church followed, and in 1890 the missionary-premier was removed from the island by British influence.

King George Tubou died in 1893 at the age of 96, and was succeeded by his great-grandson, under the same title. In 190o a treaty was concluded by which the king placed his kingdom under British protection. On the death of George II. (1918), Queen Salote ascended the throne. Since 1905 British coin has been legal tender in Tonga. Education has been rapidly developed: in 1924 there were io5 public primary schools.

See Captain Cook's Voyages and other early narratives ; G. Vason, Four years in Tongatabu (1815) ; J. Martin, Mariner's account of the Tonga Islands (Edinburgh, 1827) ; A. Monfat, Les Tonga, ou Archipel des Amis (Lyons, 5893) ; B. H. Thomson, The Diversions of a Prime Minister (1894) ; for traditions and historical material see the Journals of the Polynesian Society (New Zealand) ; P. S. A. Stewart, Handbook of the Pacific Islands (1922).