AN ISLAND QUEEN

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 100, 22 January 1919, Page 3

AN ISLAND QUEEN

STRIKING CORONATION CEREMONY

The influenza epidemic has disarranged the shipping facilities in the Islands so that news of the Tongan coronation coremony, which happened in October, is somewhat belated. However, as a study in contrasts, it is none the less interesting. A correspondent of an Australian paper sends news that Queen Salote was installed in her office, as with native ceremonial before tho European ceremony. The ceremony took place in the wide, grassy space adjoining the palace grounds and known as the Malae. Tho people assembled in large numbers on the festive day, and squatted themselves in native fashion under tho. toa trees which fringe the Make. A great canopy of tropical greenery, festooned _ with garlands intertwined with tropical flowers, was built over a raised dais, covered with fine mats; but, unfortunately, a modern touch was given by placing tho Boyal chair upon it from tho Palace Throne Boom. Still, the chair had an old-time significance, as, inlaid in the back of it is a star of koka wood from the trunk of the tree at Hihifo under the shade of which all the old-time ceremonials took place. A Native Herald, At tho hour of ten in tho morning, tho Chief Ate, of the Hihifo district, emerged from the Palace in the native dress of tapa loincloth. He was holding two long spears, from which streamed lengths of briglitly-dyed ribbons made from the fau tree bark. Ho moved forward, prancing from side to side of the avenue of trees, which fronts the palace. Periodically he would halt, glance cautiously from left to right, and make a sudden hinge forward with tho spears, as if seeking out a hidden, foe: His progress was quick and quiet, accompanied only by the noise made by a belt and. anklets of oil-nut shells. Satisfied that the whole path was clear, he returned to the Palace and gave tho Boyal party the signal that all was well. The Quean Arrives. The: Queen then came forward with great dignity in native dress—a skirt of "fine mats folded around the waist and reaching to the knees, and a bodice of tapa. To have been quite correct she should We dispensed with {he tapa. All parts of her body that showed glistened with coconut oil. Sbo was followed by 100 maidens, who carried at full length a mat of the finest weaving 60 feet long. , , . " When the Queen reaohed the dais and was seated in tho chair, tho attendants fell in behind and arranged the mat in fan fashion behind her. On eitjier side of the dais tho high chiefs of Tonga sat in the order of thoir rank, and formed a big semi-circle facing the throne.. , AH was still until the Queen, was seated. Then the chanting began, and crowds of mat-clad natives began to appear irom all quarters.' They camo forward slowly, in lour sections, and in perfect order, towards tho green, chanting all the while'in low voices. Then they retired'in the same order, and became seated in- the centre of the Malae. , A'ext a party came with gifts of food and kava root. Immediately tho kava was prepared, in the ceremonious timehonoured custom of the Queen's forefathers, except that the root was crushed between stones instead of being chowed by maidens with pearl)- teeth. Husband Looks On. Seated at the back of the assemblage, even at some distance from the kavamaking party, was the lonely-looking figure of l/iliami Tugi, the Queen's consort. According to Tongan etiquette, he had to sit alone and quite apart from the festivities. The horald who had prepared the way for the Boyal party next approached the food offerings—mostly whole baked pigs—and, selecting a young porker, ho let fly oho of his decorated spears, and struck the pig's liver—the mark intended. This morsel he lifted out and offered on tho point of the spear to the Queen. This was the signal for tho food distribution, which then began with . the highest chief and ended with the heads of the ordinary families. Orators came forward, and, in long and flowery speeches, proclaimed their allegiance to the young] Queen. The native ceremony went on for two days, after which tho coronation took place in tho Ohapel Boyal at Nukualofa, with all the pomp and ceremony of European Royalty. The Promier, whose recent visit to 'Sydney will be remembered, read the proclamation, and, a royal salute of 21 guns announced the crowning. A Study in Contrasts, The Queen's coronation robes were a direct contrast to the simplicity of her native dress. She has a dignified bearing and a stature of over 6ft., so her handsome gowning was displayed to full advantage. The robe was, of ivory duchesse 'satin, tho jupc showing four richly-embroidered panels in pearls and diamentc, - each a'foot wide. It was veiled in georgette, 'with which the corsage was also draped ov-jr the same rich embroidery. The waist was defiled with a girdle of silver cord and pearls, held in front with a bucklo of pearls and diamonds, and falling in Egyptian style, finished with long pearl fringe. The coronation cloak was of cardinal velvet, having an ermine cape collar and bordering, and tied with heavy gold cord, which ended at the foot of the skirt in heavy gold tassels. It was lined with ivory satin, and fell in graceful folds from the Queen's shoulders, and was borne to and from' the ceremony by pages in the orthodox dross. The Sunday following the coronation tho Queen's three-months-old son was christened in the Tree Church of Tonga by tho Rev. J. B. Watkin. The little heir-apparent to the last kingdom in the Pacific bears tlia title of Prince George Taufaahau Tuloulahi.