FOR a long time, I have asked how an island not more than eight hectares (about 20 acres) and about 20 metres above sea level could play such a key role in the history of Fiji.
History states at the height of its power, 4000 people lived on Bau.
Known to be a mighty kingdom, whose allies could be found throughout Fiji, Bau island was first occupied by the kai Butoni who once resided at Delainakorolevu and the kai Naulunivuaka, after whom the meeting house on Bau is named.
I have searched a lot of books for the answer but none helped. Some say the island’s rise to prominence was through treachery and deceit often known as vere vaka Bau.
It was not until a trip to Kadavu, that maybe, I have found what I’m looking for.
Almost at the centre of Kadavu on the eastern side is Soso Village in the district of Naceva, home to the chief, the Tui Naceva.
Soso is only accessible by boat.
Two boats, the Uluinabukelevu and Liahona take passengers to this side of the island. Those who travel to the island via the Lomaiviti Princess disembark at Vunisea, before a truck ride to Naluvea, which is on the other side of the island and then a 40-minute boat ride to Soso Village.
There is the need to reemphasise that Fiji relies on oral history and the problem with this is there are a lot of interpretations which may greatly differ. This article does not mean to create discord, nor does it intend to sever relationships.
Soso Village is the chiefly seat of the district of Naceva.
The village, minus the new buildings built from corrugated iron, timber and concrete, still maintains its prehistoric layout.
In the village are the remains of foundations from the priest’s house to the temple, the sacred burial ground and other stone foundations and huge boulders. It somehow gives us a clear picture of the layout of the village in the days of old.
Walking around the village just might creep one out. Even during the day, the village has a certain look with tall trees blocking the sunlight casting shrubs into a gloom, and if life was a fairytale, could be hiding dangerous creatures.
According to the Tui Naceva, Ratu Jona Donumaitoga, Soso was one of the strongest villages on Kadavu. The vanua of Koroisoso was well protected and looked after by its warriors of Natawalevu from Dravuwalu and Naisogoceva from Vukavu; the two neighbouring villages.
Ratu Jona said in the days when tribal wars were common, the then Tui Naceva needed a god of war so it was decided that they head for Soso on Naviti, Yasawa. There was no apparent reason on why they had to seek power from Yasawa, but according to Ratu Jona they were closely related.
Also on the trip to Yasawa was the ageing priest and few other men.
Ratu Jona said when they reached their destination their request was granted and were gifted the god of war, Ro Kanakana. He said the men then departed Yasawa and made the journey back while Ro Kanakana followed later in his boat the waqavatu (boat made of stone), to Kadavu.
“Na i tatau mai Soso, Yasawa ke sa mate na bete me ratou kua ni buluta ena dua na vanua, ke ratou na buluta ena dua na vanua tale na vanau oya ena matanisiga mai muri ni noda vanua. Me lai bulu ga e Soso, Kadavu.”
(Before leaving Soso, Yasawa, they were told if anything should happen to the priest, should he die, he must be buried at Soso, Kadavu. If he is buried on another island, that island will be a bright spot, significant and an important place in the future. )
Ratu Jona said the priest died and after a few days out at sea, the stench from the body became unbearable and the crew was felt uncomfortable.
“Sa toso tiko mai na i lakolako sa bona sara vakalevu na yagoi bete. Ratou sa mani veivosaki me sa bulu ena dua na yanuyanu lala. Ratou sa tiko mai na yanuyanu oya, ka sa yacana tiko ena gauna o Bau. E dua na kena iwase era qai lako tale mai e Soso.” (The stench was unbearable so they decided to bury the body on an empty island. They buried the body there and while some of them remained, others returned home. That island is today known as Bau.)
As superstitous or even unthinkable as it may seem, there is reason to believe that this is the reason that gave rise to Bau’s prominence.
They had buried the priest on the island, not knowing that all the mana brought from Yasawa, they had left on the island.
Ratu Jona said they were on Bau when a group came searching for land. They had yaqona bowls (tanoa) as their gifts. Ratu Jona said this group was then given the name Yavusa Radave because in the Kadavu dialect, dave is the tanoa.
He said to this day, the Tui Naceva had close ties with people of Soso on Bau and Yasawa because they were related.
While the Tui Naceva may have lost all the mana because the priest was buried in Bau, he did not lose his power.
According to Ratu Jona when Bau had waged war on Rewa, the Tui Naceva sent his army to help the Rewa army.
He added it was through the assistance of the army of Naceva that helped ended the war. Their main instruments of war were the rock Cagi Liwaidreke and the war club Delaivunilagi.
Ratu Jona said during that war when the Naceva army approached the Bau waters, huge rocks were thrown over from Kadavu which destroyed the vunivalu’s canoes, the Delaivunilagi clubbed down any enemy who came up against it.
The relationship between Rewa and Kadavu is another story for another time.
Despite that, Ratu Jona said up to this day, they maintained their traditional ties with Soso on Bau.
While that is the account of Ratu Jona, there is another interpretation of how the island of Bau was given the mana.
* Next week we bring you the story that gives a more detailed account of the relationship between Soso on Naviti in Yasawa, Bau and Kadavu.
