Fiji and the Fijians Author:Thomas Williams Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: No actual provision is made for the security of the life and possessions of the subject, who is regarded merely as property, and his welfare but seldom considere... more »d. Acts of oppression are common. ' The views of the chiefs do not accord with those of the wise Son of Sirach; for they are not " ashamed to take away a portion or a gift ; " but will seize not only the presents made to an inferior, but, in some cases, appropriate what a plebeian has received in payment for work done. So far from this being condemned as mean and shameful, it is considered chief-like! . The head of each government is the Tui or Turaga levu, a King of absolute power, who is, however, not unfrequently surrounded by those who exert an actual influence higher than his own, and whom, consequently, he is most careful not to offend. I have seen some Kings who only retained their position by laying aside the independent action of their own will. When rule is strictly followed, the successor of a deceased King is his next brother; failing whom, his own eldest son, or the eldest son of his eldest brother, fills his place. But the rank of mothers and other circumstances often cause a deviation from the rule. I am acquainted with several cases in which the elder brother has yielded his right to the younger, with a reservation as to power and tribute, becoming a man second only to the King. In the induction to royalty there are two stages. First is the nomination, when the leading men drink yaqona with the King elect, presenting the first cup to him, and with it the royal title : this is generally done a few days after the death of the late King. The second stage, which is equivalent to coronation, is the anointing or bandaging, and may not take place for several months or even years. An unfolded sala or turba...« less