Show Me the Sky - Nicholas Hogg [73]
9 July 1835
Naraqino, the youngest brother of King Tanoa, has returned to Rewa after a royal visit of the outlying islands. He had already heard news of our arrival from some Lakembans at Kandavu, and wished immediately to meet the rev. and myself.
In the hope that his reputation of warrior and thug had been exaggerated, I refrained from describing him to the rev. prior to our meeting. But before Naraqino had even opened his mouth, it was apparent to us both that he had not the gravity or wisdom of his elder brother. Naraqino is a man constantly armed with a club or mace – protection most necessary, as I understand he has many enemies sworn to revenge. His face bears the scars of battle like a mottled coconut, with a recent gash the work of his deceased brother Bithi, who struck out at Naraqino in the dead of night, fearing his sibling had come to murder him in his bed. Naraqino, overpowered by Bithi, swore he was in the hut as a bodyguard, insisting he had heard whispers of an assassination and merely wished to protect his brother – second in line to the throne, the one son between himself and all of Fiji.
The ‘conversation’ between Naraqino, his cackling cohorts, the rev. and myself, could hardly be called as such. Naraqino either mocked my clothes or manner – at one point taking my jacket and walking about the hut in a stiff and grotesque mimic of a white man – or challenged the rev. to prove his God was greater with some instant miracle.
The Rev. Thomas, offended and angered by Naraqino, realised he was not a man to debate, and sought the counsel of the king. Hearing of his brother’s disrespect brought an immediate apology, but no action. Judging by the increased number of men stationed at the fort, I wonder how much command King Tanoa has over his errant sibling.
10 July 1835
Wisely choosing the arrival of Naraqino as time for a tour upriver, the rev. and I will journey by canoe and preach to the smaller villages towards the interior.
Our presence antagonises the followers of Naraqino, and a trip away for several days may give chance for them to accept our being in Rewa.
12 July 1835
Rev. Thomas preached to a subdued village this afternoon, and was greatly dismayed to hear that he was not the first white man to stand upon their soil. The nervous reception of our party stemmed from the actions of those who had been before us, the infamous Swede, Charles Savage, and his fellow escaped convicts. The chief told us that Bau and Rewa had existed in peace until the arrival of Savage and his men, who had washed up upon their shores after fleeing gaol in New South Wales. They landed with more muskets than men, and often slaughtered at will, wiping out the entire population of Kasavu for no other reason than target practice. Ultimately the vagabonds quarrelled with each other and butchered themselves, though Savage was killed and eaten at Wailea for refusing to part with his clothes. Sail needles were fashioned from his bones. But not before he had shared his guns with various chiefs, waging war between the villages as though it were a game to appease his boredom.
The rev. attempted to show the congregation that the Lord knew of their suffering, and declared that no murderer escapes the wrath of God: ‘On the day this man stood to be judged, know that the flames in Hell burned higher with one more wicked soul upon the fire.’
But it was not a day for conversions, and we did not sleep the night, as our crew feared that those who had lost family to the men of Savage might seek retribution by way of the reverend.
13 July 1835
Paddling back to Rewa we passed several abandoned villages. Never have I seen such a miserable scene, the leafless frames of the homes like rotting skeletons. The men told us that these were places the