Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1887 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XIII. A GHOST IN ROTUMAH. Rotumah is situated in the Pacific in about latitude 12 soutb, and longitude 177 east, and is between three and four hundred miles north of the Fiji group. Previous to the date of its annexation to Fiji, it had been the scene of fierce intertribal quarrels and religious wars. Life there was unsafe and property insecure, and at length the chiefs of the different tribes recognized this fact, which would never have been acknowledged by the representatives of the antagonistic religious sects. Those chiefs had been engaged in such bitter hostilities that they were anxious for peace, but were unable to establish any form of government for themselves. The island, described by Lieutenant Bower in an official report to the Governor of Fiji as the "Garden of the Pacific," had suffered terribly. The native gardens were neglected, and many of the cocoanut trees, on the produce of which the natives had to depend for their modest luxuries, were destroyed. Whenever an opportunity offered, the young men deserted their homes and shipped as sailors in any vessel which happened to touch at the island for fresh provisions. It appeared not improbable that, in a very. few years, Eotumah would be left in possession of only the old men, women, and children. The chiefs found themselves unequal to the task of selecting one from their own ranks to enjoy the supreme power, and decided to present a humble petition to the "Great Queen" to send a white chief to govern their people, and to secure the religious freedom for which at heart they were all anxious. For this purpose the three most powerful chiefs took the first opportunity of going to Fiji, and in person they presented their petition to Sir Arthur Gordon. They were received...
