Relics Of Castaways'
p. 109 · Read in the full issue
Epic Voyage Found
At Kadavu
Memories of the epic struggle for survival by 17 Tongans wrecked when their yacht "Tuaikeapau" hit South Minerva Reef on July 7, 1962, were revived early in April with the dis covery of a compass off Jioma, Kadavu, Fiji.
The compass belonged to the make shift boat "Malolelei", which Captain Tevita Fiflta, his son, and another man sailed 350 miles to Kadavu to seek assistance.
The compass and a sextant were lost when the "Melolelei" capsized off Nacomoto Village, Kadavu, on October 14. Captain Tevita's son was drowned.
Nemani Wakaya, of Jioma village, found the compass half buried in sand in six fathoms of water on April 6. The news of his discovery did not become publicly known until he made a trip to Suva recently with produce for sale.
Nemani said there had been keen competition at Kadavu to find the compass and sextant after Captain Tevita had told the people that any one who found them could keep them.
Nemani said he and other men had gone out to the reef three or four times a week and that he had found the compass after about 20 searches.
Another villager, Samuela Valeova, of Naidua, found part of the sextant late in May.