Installation Of Roko Tui

Namata

A RARELY performed Fijian ceremony took place at Raralevu, Tailevu, on July 29, when Ratu Inoke Mara was formaily installed as Roko Tui Namata, Ratu Mara is the son of the late Ratu Inoke Seru, a former Inspector of Con stabulary in Fiji.

Before the ceremony a hundred or more mats were placed in a Fijian house to form a seat for Ratu Mara, who en tered the building wearing full ceremonial costume, with a train of tapa over 100 feet long.

The drinking of the first bowl of chief ly yaqona by Ratu Mara was the climax of the formal ceremony of installation.

Traditional Fijian oaths were admini stered, the new Roko Tui promising to preserve the rights of his people.

Tabuas were then presented to con firm the installation and the ceremony ended with the presentation of food, —Fiji Public Relations Office Bulletin.

While in London with the Victory Con tingent. five Fijians recorded their dia lects for the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies.

These recordings will help the phonetics department to train men for studying Western Pacific languages.

A new launch has been built in Woy Woy (NSW) for the New Guinea Methodist Mission. It was launched re cently and will soon be in service in the Territory.