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Hokitika Guardian, 16 September 1933, Page 6

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BIG FUJI CEREMONY_ ~JIETURN :q£ NATIVE chi EE , vSAJVA .September 9. ■ The return of Ratu George Cokanau.o, hereditary high. chief; of, Rewa, to the people cf Rewa was finally ac-.(•Mupli-shed late on Thursday night of this week. In the‘presence of soinle 5000 natives from all parks o? the disand after much ceremony, Ratu Pope S'eniloi led a small procession into-the inner enclosure for. the final ceremony. He was followed by Ratu George and by the chiefs of Bau in order of. seniority. Tana and Tabuas were presented, and tlien Ratu George was-formally handed to. the Rewa people and accepted by the aged chief of Rewa, Katu done.

!. Eatu George’s father had been the | high chief of Rewa and his mother t was a woman of high rank from the native capital of Ban. When his father [ died his mother returned to Ran, taking her son with her, and there he ,wns brought up by the Bauan people. But ties of birth are very strong in' Fiji and the Rewa people desired the return of their young chief, now a man of .84 years. A long period of negotiation culminated in Thursday's cere-, roomy at which the Governor and chiefs, from all pj'irts were present. As usual with these native' ceremonies food formed a very important part of the' function. The villiage green at Rpwa. was fenced off with an old-time stockade, and on a post about every six . feet was a roast, pig covered with la-mat. For, the men of rank there vvere large quantities of the chiefly dishes of pig. and turtle, while taro and yam were there in abundance. It [is said that the people of Kandavu sent 15,000 taro as a present, while. Renga also sent 5000 to prepare the way for the coming of their representatives. For several days prior to the commencement of the: ceremony advance' parties from the various native towns arrived at Rewa with huge stores ■of food, and so, with due- pomp and ceremony, and much more than a sufficiency of food, Ratu. George restored to his ancestral home.