The ‘fearful massacre’
THE Fiji Times of July 23, 1870 reported that 370 Fijians lost their lives during a tribal killing in Ba.
“We have just heard frightful news from Ba, on the north-west coast of Viti Levu,” the story’s opening line read.
Around this time, the people of Ba were at war with mountaineers and many people were killed on both sides.
Silas, a minister from the Ba area tipped the newspaper in a letter where he described the “fearful massacre”.
The mountaineers came from Navosa and descended on a district called Nalotu, regarded a subject of Ba forces and an advance fortress of the Ba people.
The people of Nalotu put up a war fence to stop the mountaineers but a chief among the Navosa contingent named Wawabalavu called out.
“You Nalotu people, I am Wawabalavu, it was I who eat Mr Baker (the Rev Thomas Baker), and the Bau men,” The Fiji Times quoted the Ba minister as saying.
“Do you trust the Lasakau people? Don’t. Their trade is fishing. You offer peace offerings or make submission that you live.”
The Nalotu people were filled with fear and presented peace offerings.
The mountaineers entered the village and stayed for days. Each day more of their people came from the hills.
Then they turned around suddenly upon the Nalotu people and slaughtered 370 of them.
According to The Fiji Times, the minister further wrote: “The Navunivasi town 171 killed, Draunitari 114, Koroikewa 58, Nasaga 27 — altogether 370”.
“This number clubbed is clear, but there are many still missing; who are hiding in the jungle, or have been taken prisoners of war to Navosa.
“Perhaps they are killed, but their bodies have not yet been found. Only 104 have escaped alive to Ba.”
Note that this was during the early days of Christianity. Although many chiefs had converted, many tribal wars continued, especially among Fijians who lived in the highlands.