When Prince Hindi Visited

Rarotonga

THE recent visit of the new Ariki Nui of Rarotonga (Mrs. Love) to the head of the ancient House of Malietoa in Samoa, recalls the fact that visits between int°r-Island Royalties was once more frequent than in recent years.

In the middle of 1897. the Rarotongans were notified of the impending arrival of Price Hihoi (nephew to Pcmare V) of Tahiti. A ceremonial visit was to be paid Queen Makea. Though the “coconut radio” was not then in existence, rumour was, as usual rife. It was suggested that the nrince would have succeeded Pomare V if “Tahiti had not fallen under French rule”, that he had a pension of £1,500 a year in addition to rents, that in France he had acquired a taste for French liquors.

“All I can say is that it is a pity he had not waited until the coffee season was over”, wrote a European resident, who bewailed the interruption to Raro tonga’s economic life. All through the night the drums resounded. Natives practised their danc°s. No limit was set to the time for making rr^ats.

Prince Hinoi duly arrived in August of that year, and, subsequently, returned the Queen’s hospitality with “a grand luncheon in the French style”. He brought considerable quantities of champagne with him, to which, by the way, the Rarotongans were quite unaccustomed.

Orange beer was more in th°ir line. The majority had never even seen champagne before, and they believed it to be a sort of lemonade. The result was disastrous!

Dr. H. S. Evans, of the Fiji Medical Department, is at present on long leave.