A Biting Reply

Mr. Cowley and "The Tongan Mind"

Letter to the Editor IT is regrettable that, in displaying his biting wit and superior knowledge, and his wrathful indignation against those half-truths which Tennyson tells us “are ever the basest of lies”, Mr. Cowley should have allowed his enthusiasm to run away with him, and to cast asper sions on the “Tongan mind” and the “educated Tongan” in his letter in your November issue.

The tone of the letter, to say the least about it, was most offensive from the Tongan point of view. However, such an outburst would “surely emanate” from Mr. Cowley’s type of mind.

Mr. Cowley could have put his case quite effectively and forcefully without having to be offensive about it. His attitude shows that either he is pre judiced against Tongans, or he is one of those gentlemen who cannot help be ing nasty when they have a point to argue. Happily his kind is rare.

With his vast background of centuries of civilisation and cultural development, it is queer that Mr. Cowley lacks toler ance and restraint which are the true hallmarks of civilised instincts. His “utter failure” to appreciate the fact that the “educated Tongan” has just passed the century mark of civilisation shows that Pope’s aphorism, “a little knowledge is a dangerous thing”, has lost none of its pungency.

However, it is fortunate that Tonga is not afflicted with race prejudice—at least not on the part of Tongans. But such attitude as shown in Mr. Cowley’s letter would surely create antagonism in the “Tongan mind” against Europeans I am, etc.,

Malimali Loto.

Nukualofa, 10/1/40.