Pages From The Past

Charlie Savage—The White Chief of Bau

By Erle Wilson

ONE of the most picturesque figures of Fiji’s “bad old days” was Charlie Savage, the young English seaman who became a chief of the Bau people and polygamous husband of chiefs’ daughters.

The story of his career —known to most old hands in the Group—is one of stirring adventure. Though his reign was brief, his influence on the political fortunes of more than one tribe in Na Viti Levu can be traced to-day more than 120 years after he was cast away on Mocea reef at Nairai when the brig Josephine was wrecked.

Savage and four companions were the only members of the crew to reach the shore alive. Without food, unarmed, and in rags, they might well have met the fate of so many other Europeans who fell helpless into the hands of Fijians even at a much later date. But, to the Kai Viti of that time, a white-man was a rara avis indeed, and the Tui Lawaki, into whose hands Savage and his companions fell, was astute enough to see that the possession of five such curiosities, alive, was likely to prove of more value than five dead, white-skinned strangers. It may have been, too, and subsequent events lend weight to the supposition, that Tui Lawaki was not a sufficiently high chief to keep such rare dainties to him self, for, shortly after their landing on

Nairai, the chief of Verata, passing through Lawaki, took Savage’s four com panions away to his town.

Why Charlie Savage was left is uncer tain. Perhaps, as he was but a youth, he was not thought of much worth, and the Tui Lawaki was allowed to keep him. In this the Verata peoplfe blundered. For before long the youthful Savage—soon to be a savage indeed —was to become their most powerful enemy, leading the war riors of the rival clan of Bau.

Shortly after the Verata men had left Lawaki, some Levuka people called there en route to Bau, of which state they were subject. When they moved on they took Savage with them as a present to a newly-installed War-Chief, Ratu Rama tenikutu.

Savage attached himself closely to the War-Chief and, far from showing com punction or reluctance he proved himself eager to join in the almost incessant fighting that went on against neighbour ing clans. He was a vigorous youth and acquitted himself well; but native weapons were evidently not deadly enough for him. Soon his mind turned back to the muskets which he knew had been aboard the Josephine and at last he persuaded Ratu Ramatenikutu to let him return to the wreck in the hope of finding them.

His search in the vicinity of the wreck was without result, but as he was about to return empty-handed to Bau he saw the rusted barrel of a musket projecting from the grass-thatched roof of Tul

JLawaki’s house. This he took, cleaned thoroughly and, having no powder, put away in readiness for the future. Wrecks, he knew, would become more frequent in those uncharted waters as European ships penetrated further into the Fiji Islands: from one of them he might pro cure the necessary powder and bullets.

He was right. Shortly afterwards, an unfortunate brig was driven ashore on Oneata and from it Savage procured the ammunition he needed, together with three more muskets.

Now was his chance to increase his already considerable prestige in the land.

His adopted clansmen had no knowledge of firearms. Chiefs and commoners alike were greatly impressed, not to say awed, when their white man drove a bullet through a stout canoe rest from several yards’ distance. The tribal medicine-man, seeing how things were going and fearing a rival, immediately claimed the musket for himself and, as custom disallowed the refusal of a claim from such a quarter, Savage had perforce to part with the weapon.

In those days the warriors were never

long inactive. Ratu Ramatenikutu called his men out against the town of Nakelo, and with them went Charlie Savage elated at the prospect of showing off his prowess with firearms against the unfortunate enemies of his brothers-in-arms.

Cautiously the painted fighters of Bau advanced on Nakelo but their approach was known: the gates were closed and the Bati-ni-koro—the Teeth-of-the-Town —crouched, waiting in readiness behind the war-fence.

Now was the opportunity of the white man. His bullets would have pierced the stockade, but ammunition was too valu able to use in random shooting. He directed the Bau warriors to erect a plat form on the edge of the bush, high enough to give him sight beyond the stockade.

It was quickly done and, mounting this platform, he opened fire on the Nakelo.

His first shot brought a shout of "A kuru siga!” (“A bolt from the blue!”)

from the defenders. Savage was an expert marksman. He fired carefully, each time dropping his man. Never before had a gun been used in war in Fiji: the astounded Nakelo fled, pursued by the equally astonished but exultant killers of Bau.

Verata at that time was the most powerful rival of Bau. Soon after the Nakelo fight, some Bau canoes with Charlie Savage aboard, met and routed a fleet of Verata fishermen near Macoi Point. In the fight that took place, Savage again distinguished himself by his shoot ing and courage. After the fight, the blooded warriors were streaked with black and red, and Savage also was painted according to custom, and given the honorific title of Koroinavunivalu.

In the opinion of the Bau High-Chiefs, Savage (now Koroinavunivalu) had proven his devotion to his adopted tribe and two women of rank were given to

him as wives: Adi Kakua, daughter of Roko Tui Bau (High-Chief of Bau) and another, daughter of Tui Lomaloma (Chief of Lomaloma), as well as a num ber of other wives of low degree.

The young ex-seaman now ranked as a Chief in the land; but, though he had fallen in so completely with native life, his thoughts often turned to his four erstwhile companions who had been taken to Verata. He knew they were still alive and at last he contrived to get a written message to them, urging them to join him at Bau. This they eventually did and they were welcomed and given a house for their own use. But they did not show Savage’s ability to adapt themselves to their circumstances. The fears of mas sacre which they must have felt at first had long since been allayed and, as time passed, they increasingly adopted a pose of superiority by virtue of their lighter skins alone.

Koroinavunivalu remonstrated with them to no effect and, eventually, annoyed at being excluded from a feast of warriors, they went by night to the rara and cut up the communal supply of yams.

The chiefs were angered, and it is an indication of the firm position Savage had won among them that they sought his permission before making a move to punish the presumptuous whites by death.

The permission was given. Whether readily or not we do not know, but there is nothing in Charlie Savage’s history to indicate the likelihood of any great reluct ance to abandon his old companions in order to preserve his own standing. Death had become a familiar thing to him, and the four were clearly not fitted to the Fijian way of life.

Armed with muskets, the seamen retired into their vale and barricaded the two narrow doors. A Bau Chief and a Soso man were shot before the vale was fired, and the four castaways suffocated in its smoke.

Koroinavunivalu continued to live the life of a fighting Chief of Bau. He had been with the clan about two years when the daughter of Tui Lomaloma bore him a daughter whom he named Maria.

About five years later a brig arrived at Bau and the captain asked Koroina vunivalu’s permission to cut sandalwood near Bau. The white Chief agreed and with several other Bau Chiefs accom panied the sailors to Navakasiga where they anchored near the town. For once Charlie Savage’s judgment was at fault.

While his party were busy felling trees with only their logging tools at hand, they were rushed by the warriors of Nava kasiga and massacred to a man.

That ambush was the beginning of a long and bitter war in which Navakasiga and several other towns were sacked, and Charlie Savage and the Bau Chiefs fiercely avenged. During the war, a young chief who had particularly distinguished himself was given the title of Koroijale (Koroi-Charlie) after the Fijian fashion of creating a living memorial to a fallen warrior Chief.

Maria, Savage’s daughter, later became the wife of a Rewa chief, Roko Tui Dreketi, and their only daughter, Adi Karalaini Lako, later married a Bau Chief, Ratu Isireli Tawakedina. Their son, Ratu Tomu, was taken to school in Australia by a Mr. G. A. Woods just prior to the hoisting of the British flag in Fiji in 1874. He did not return.

What became of him is not known and in him ended the line of Chiefs of Bau founded by Charlie Savage, one of the first Europeans to survive shipwreck on the beaches of Fiji.

Captain C. R. Pinney, M.C., has been reappointed Administrator and Chief Magistrate of Norfolk Island for a year from July 1.