TONGAN WAYS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2141, 6 May 1914, Page 8

TONGAN WAYS

CONSUMPTION fcIFE IN THE GROUP

TALK WITH DR. UAirSQi

Dr. Alfred Izard, Chief Medical Officer of the Kingdom of, Tonga, came to New Zealand some little time ago to recruit after a sharp attack of dengue fever, and a few weeks in this countrv has proved wonderfully restorative. He -leaves on his return" to Tonga, on Friday. In tho courso of ail interview yesterday, Dr. Izard said soma interesting thuigs about Tonga. . It was, ho said" tho last and only" kingdom left in the Pacific. It had its King (King George Tubou), and there was a .Premier, Privy Council, and a Parliament. The. Parliament only assembled once in three voars, and lasted' as long as tho supplies of food did. The British Consul was vested with high authority, and had the power of vote in some directions, notably hi respect to appointments. "Mv own appointment, for instance," 'said Dr, Izard, "was made without first- obtaining his consent, and, as a result, at was' referred to the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific (at Fiji), and, through him, t 0 Downing Street. There aro three doctors in the. Medical Department of Tonga—Dr. Bcate, at Varan; Dr. "Cowan, at Haapai; while Dr. Monk (formerly of Auckland) is at present relieving mo at Tongutabu, of which Nukualofa is tho chief town and tho capital of tho kingdom. "Tho position is no, sinecure, for the Government gives free medical treatment to all Tongans, and there are 110,000 .natives on the island of Tongatabu alone.. The iverli; cannot very well ho done by ono man, so relief is given I by training native students' oh the Indian system, and sending them out as dispensers to the ostlying islands. They can, with a little patience, bo taught I how to sew a cut, dress a. Wound, tmd dispense simple medicines. Since I have been there two students have been sent out, fairly well equipped. Tongans are Fatalists, "We havo a -splendidly-equipped hospital, which_ has a good operating theatre. Wo do not count the size of tho hospital by tho number of beds, because the'ro aro only thrco.or four beds. When a native comes along for treatmerit, ho usually brings his own mats, and just lies down on them where lie is told to. The nurses are all native boys, [ and very good nurses ,tfoy make. They have just as many ail-i«civts ; as the whites.-' Wasn't it Washington Irving who said that we gnvo theliedlttdians our drugs, and, at tho sain© time, our diseases.to show what the drugs could do ? In the ; same maimer civilisation is accountable for many of the diseases winch Tongans suffer from, the most s-eri-'i'-n be . ,n S consumption, "IV natives still rely m the first instance on native medicines, just as the Maori used to rely on the tohunga. Then, when it is too ate for anything to be done they aro brought to the hospital, and, as tlioy do not then in all cases recover, I have to take the blame. Consumption is a serious threat in tho group, and is- likely to be so owing to tho native customs and conditions of living, 'which a'ro i against all reform measures, One often ['sees eight or ten people in one small Jiouso with all the doors shut at night to keep out tho mosquitoes. What we will havo to strive to da is to educate j thorn to appreciate hygienic conditions and isolation. That, of course, moans money, which it is,, always difficult to get' for almost any\ reform anywhere. Even tho chiefs are under tho grip of tho old native ways, afliftkis fact'is tlm reverse of helpful. In that respect lam hopeful that the recent- visit of the, Premier, of Tonga to New Zealand will do much good. Then there is elephantiasis, I and an e.vo disease called pterygfutn, both of which arc common. There are ■a few cases of leprosy, and it is tho intention to institute a leper station in the group as soon as possible'.,. • "To a largo extent the Tongans aro fatalists,- and one of their strange customs is rather disconcerting to the sick. As soon, as the relatives of an invalid consider that ho is going to die, they come to tho hospital and take him-away so that he may die in his own home. At times they may visit him, and bring tho mourning mats with them that 'they aro to use after his death, That is not very cheering to tho sick man. ■- Climate and Native Life. "Tho climate of Tonga is iffea.l. 'Though' it is onlv 20 degrees from the Equator, the south-east trade winds have a cooling effect, and, for eight months of the year, tho temperature is seldom abovo 80 degrees.. It is a beautiful trip for I\ew Zealanders in the winter time, and to those who wish to- avoid tho rigours of the New Zealand winter there are balmy breezes and picturesque sights in Tongan waters. Tire Tongans .are kind,- hospitable, and highly emotional, people.- They havo perfect manners, and aro extremely musical. It takes little to make thent laugh or crv, and withal they are a peaceful and lovable people.' Tho sale of intoxicating liquors is prohibited amongst.tho nsw ! fives, and drunkenness' is practically unknown. They stillfgather ronnd tlm kavft howl when there is anything to celebrate, but that docs not' affect tho head—it only takes effect in the legs, so that a man is able to laugh' at tho way that his legs.are'misbehaving themselves."

As to the.future of Totj'ga, D? Izard stated that he knows nothing, That was a' matter beyond his province, but ho expressed the opinion that it was unlikely that there Tvoulrl he any alteration in control during tho lifetime of the present King. •