TONGA ISLANDS, or FRIENDLY ISLANDS. A group of Polynesian islands in the Pacific Ocean, about 350 miles southeast of Samoa, ex tending from 5' to 29' south latitude and from 173° 52' to 176° 10' west longitude, the Fiji Islands being on the east (Map: Austra lasia, L 4). The Tonga Islands form a native kingdom, but are controlled by Great Britain. They number about 150, but only 32 are of any importance. The area is about 390 square miles. The Tonga Islands form two nearly paral lel rows of islands extending from north to south. The eastern row contains the Vavau, Haapai, Na muka, Kotu, and Tonga groups. These eastern islands are of coral limestone formation, and lie low and are comparatively level. In the last named group is the largest and most fertile island of all—Toiwatabu. It' is in the south, and con tains about 1.10 square miles. It has about half the population of all the Tonga Islands. The western row of islands are volcanic, high and steep. Of these. Lette and Tofoa are active, and Kao (about 2850 feet high) is extinct. The cli mate of the Tonga Islands is moderate and favor able, considering the latitude. The annual rain fall is heavy—over 75 inches. Serious earth quakes are not infrequent. and small islands rise suddenly at times and as suddenly disappear. A tornado wrought havoc in Vavau in 1900. The flora is very rich, especially in palms. The na tive fauna is comparatively insignificant ; there only needs to be mentioned the large bat (Ptero pns tonganns). All the main Tonga Islands are covered with luxuriant vegetation. The soil is rich. The land is leased, not sold; and as its tenure is not assured, the improvements are both meagre and poor. Copra and fungus are ex ported, and tapa and mats are made. The im ports, mostly from Australia and New Zealand, amounted to $440,000 in 1901, and include dra peries and foods. The tonnage entered and cleared in 1901 was 119,100. There is regular steam communication with the neighboring British pos sessions. There are many good harbors. The annual revenue is about $100,000, the expendi ture somewhat less. There is no debt. The capi tal is Nukualofa, ou Tongatabu Island. The popu lation was given in 1900 as 18,959, nearly all natives. They are among the most civilized of
the Polynesians. They are agriculturists and adept seafarers. 'While clever and eager to learn and imitate, they appear to lack the qualities necessary to independent and enduring success. Most of them are Wesleyans.
The Tonga Islands were discovered in 1643. in 1773 and in 1777 they were visited by Cook, who explored them, and gave them the name of Friendly Islands ou account of the friendly attitude of the natives. Before the break7 ing out of the civil wars early in the nine teenth century, the islands were under the rule of two reigning families. During this po litical upheaval the local hereditary chiefs de clared their independence, hut were united under the wise rule of George I., who in 1875 intro duced a sort of constitutional government, allow ing the chiefs a share in the administration. Treaties were concluded with Great Britain, Ger many, and also, iu 1SSS, with the 'United States. The privilege of building a naval station was abandoned by Germany in 1899 in favor of Great Britain, which country declared its protectorate over the group in that year. The present ruler, King George II., is assisted by a legislative as sembly. meeting every three years, and composed partly of hereditary nobles and partly of mem bers elected on a property qualification. There are a cabinet, a privy council, and judiciary.
BIBLIOGRAPHY. Ellis, Polynesian Researches Bibliography. Ellis, Polynesian Researches (London, 1853) ; Erskine, Islands of the Western Pacific (London, 1853) ; Fornander, An Account of the Polynesian Race (ib., 1878) ; Coote, West ern Pacific Islands (ib., 1883) ; Cooper, The Isl ands of the Pacific (ib.. ISM) ; Reclus. Nouvelle geographic universellc, vol. xiv. (Paris, 1889) ; Monfat, Les Tonga ou Arehipel des dmis (Lyon, 1893) : Wallace, "Australasia," in Stanford. Com pendium of Geography (London, 1894) ; Reeves, Brown Men and Women in the South Sea Islands (ib., 1898) ; Shoemaker, Islands of the Southern Seas (New York, 189$) Stevenson, In the South Sects (London. 1900) ; Brigham, An index to the Islands of the Pacific (Honolulu, 1900).