Prince Thakombau

Sydney Student is the Direct Descendant of Famous Fijian King

STUDYING at one of Sydney’s most exclusive colleges, with a view to taking the Arts course at Sydney University, and thence going on to Oxford or Cambridge, is young George

Prince Thakombau

Thakombau, of the Royal Family of Fiji. (He spells it “Cakobau,” but the old-style spelling is the better known.) King Thakombau, great-grandfather of this young Islands prince, was a very famous man in Fiji between 1835 and 1870. When he first came into notice he was the supreme chief of the tribe of Bau, but he was rivalled in power by Maasu, a Tongan chief, who had become head of the Fijian confederacy of Laua. There was considerable fighting and turbulence in the forties, and Thakombau gradually became the supreme power, so that he became recognised as King of Fiji. There was much cannibalism at Fiji at this time, and Thakombau in his early days was noted as the great est cannibal of them all. The literature of the second half of last century is full of references to “Thakombou, the Cannibal King.” Later, he was converted to Christianity and was a good friend of the missionaries.

About 1858 the United States demanded £9,000 from Thakombau as damages for certain outrages committed on American citizens, and the King, being much embarrassed, decided to get out of his trouble by offering the whole Fijian Group to Britain. This was declined, so Thakombau presently offered the group to the United States. America, at that time was busy with her Civil War, and did not even reply. There was another 10 years of turmoil and then, in 1873, Thakombau did succeed in persuading Britain to take over the group. Thakombau thereafter settled down and became a highly respectable old gentleman, one of the trusted native advisers of the British Administration, and lived for many years.

Thakombau sent his son, Joseph Thakombau, to Newington College, in Sydney, and his son in turn, the father of the present George Thakombau, was also well educated.

The present George Thakombau proposes to study law at Oxford and, also, Colonial Administration, so that when his time comes to follow his father as the paramount chief in Fiji, he will be well qualified to undertake his duties. He has an attractive personality and is a first-class athlete. ... ===