A BIG CHIEF PASSES.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 January 1922, Page 4

A BIG CHIEF PASSES.

(By Te Pana). TONGA. The big chief was dead. Almost as rapidly ais the fore© that sends news speeding along strands of wire under seas and over lands sped the mouthcarried message. It penetrated into neat villages in the interior and travelled to palm-sliadod liuts along the sands guarded by spray-covered reefs. The big chief died last night. That! was the message. Out to tiny islands it went, to isolated plantations, to headmen in the midst of haranguing their people, to college students poring over their books.

The big chief was dead. He died last night. It was enough. Respect is instinct' with the Tongans. Custom has it that all people shall bo at the ceremony of laying great men nt rest. And so the people cam© to the burial, clime to* the palm-fringed capital, where the flags were at half mast, and where smoke from native ovens rose near the building that sheltered the dead chief.

They came and forgathered in the yard, bark-cloth enshrouded figures that paid their respects—cried, chant<*d, praised, and then remained silent. There was sorrow in the subdhed availing, sorrow in the bowed figures of the people, sorrow in their silence.

The church bells tolled. Down the ; white, glaring roadway marched a. troop of college students, a band at thei • head. Blade streams of ribbon fell from the shoulders of the youths with instruments; a broad, dark bar was on tho a,rm of each boy. T.ioft—left! they marched to the tap of the muffled drum. Up to tho gaffes they came—a. white, silent-moving rowd. Halt! Salute! Up wont right hands to the brow. So they paid honour to the dead. Presently there was a stir on the verandah. Gradually from amid the trees came the casket, carried on a platform on the shoulders of many men. Cloth beaten from the bark of a trac decorated the bier. Mats of fine fex- . ture* hung about the polished case; gay scarlet hibiscus blooms crowned all. Boom! boom! boom!. sounded tljo drum- The group shuffled and fell into line behind Hie band. Down tho grassy street on to the beach, between an avenne of coco - palms, straggled the people. Boom', boom! boom | went the drum, and in the distance bells tolled, softly. The black-garbed Mifiisters-waitedf m 'the midst of palm-shaded moulds, wait-. ?ed for the coming of the big chief, '