The Diversions of a Prime Minister, etc. (A sketch of the history of Tonga.)

Front matter

THE DIVERSIONS OF A PRDIE MINISTER THE DIVERSIONS OF A PKIME MINISTEE BY BASIL THOMSON author of 'south sea yarns WITH A MAP NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS BY J. W. CAWSTON AND OTHERS AND REPRODUCTIONS OF RARE PLATES OF EARLY VOYAGES OF XVI1TH AND XVinTH CENTURIES WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS EDINBURGH AND LONDON MDCCCXCIV TO GEORGE TUKUAHO, GEORGE FATAFEHI, WILLIAM TUNGI, and ASIBELI KUBU, TO WHOSE TACT AND UNSELFISH DEVOTION TO DUTY WAS DUE THE SUCCESS OF OUR JOINT ENTERPRISE Zi,\s £0ront'cfc IS AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED.

Preface

. For the benefit of those to whom the name Tonga has an unmeaning sound, and latitude and longitude convey no distinct impression, let me say that the realm of King George Tubou will be found in the map under the name of the " Friendly Islands," about 1000 miles north of New Zealand, 300 miles east of Fiji, and 350 south of Samoa. I count among the Tongans so many true friends that it would touch me nearly if I should seem in the following pages to have been lacking in recognition of their many admirable qualities. If I have spoken of their institutions with levity, it is because I have judged the nation from the standard of a European people, with whom, in intelligence, physique, and disposition, they are fit to be compared. I have printed these pages with the knowledge and permission of the chiefs best fitted to speak for the whole' people ; and when I refuse to treat seriously the fatal experiment of engrafting Western customs upon their own ancient and admirable polity,

PREFACE.

. I am finly reproducing the sense of grotesqueness with which their present hybrid institutions inspire the best of them. Where I have laughed, they have laughed with me ; what I have deplored, they have no less regretted. For the materials of the slight historical sketch I am specially indebted to Tukuaho, Tungi, and Fatafehi ; and I take this opportunity for thanking the Hon. Bolton Corney, M.D., by whose kindness I am able to repro duce the rare plates of Schouten's voyage. Ascot, November 1S94. CONTEXTS. PAGE I. A BLOODLESS REVOLUTION .... 1 II. HOW I TOOK OFFICE ..... 26 III. THE SHIP OF STATE AND HER CREW ... 34 IV. HOW I FARED AT COURT .... 50 V. HOW I BECAME A PRIVY COUNCILLOR ... 65 VI. THE POLITICAL USES OF A STATE CHURCH . . 73 VII. MEETINGS ORDINARY AND EXTRAORDINARY . 85 VIII.

CONVICTS AND POLICE ..... 105 IX. A SCHOOL OF COOKERY FOR ACCOUNTANTS . . 118 X. THE WOLF AT THE DOOR .... 143 XI. VAVAU ....... 161 XII. MISSIONARIES ...... 185 XIII. ODIUM THE0L0GICUM ..... 204 XIV. AMATEUR LAW-GIVING ..... 220 XV. INCUBATION ...... 234 XVI. LORDS AND COMMONS IN COUNCIL . . . 247 POSTSCRIPT ...... X CONTENTS. A SKETCH OF THE HISTORY OF TONGA — I. THE BORDERLAND OF MYTH . . . .291 II. THE COMING OF THE FOREIGNERS . . • 308 III. THE REVOLUTION ..... 321 IV. KING GEORGE . . . . . ' . 342 THINGS ANTHROPOLOGICAL AND ZOOLOGICAL . . - 369