‘Ata, Tonga’s southernmost island, is a long way away, separated from Tongatapu by 160 km of open ocean. ‘Ata’s place in the history books is well established. It was here, in June 1863, that the whaling ship Grecian under Captain Thomas McGrath anchored off the northeastern shore and only village, Kolomaile. The details of the events that followed are sketchily recorded, but the consequence is notorious. A large number of ‘Ata’s residents were lured on to the ship, captured, and then sold to a Peruvian slaver for transport to Lima. None were to return. In the aftermath of the raid, and under the orders of Tupou I, the remaining ‘Atans were resettled on ‘Eua, in a village they again named Kolomaile. By David V. Burley.
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Results for Tongan pre-history
Friday 7 August 2015
Suva, Fiji
The first modern King of Tonga, George Tupou I, foresaw that there would come a day when his people would be “destroyed for lack of knowledge”. We ask the Honorable Members of Parliament, do not let this prophetic statement come true. Safeguard and preserve the Popua Sia for future generations and find another site for housing developments. - Lea Kauvaka Hauula, Fiji. Petitioning Prime Minister 'Akilisi Pohiva and Members of Parliament, Kingdom of Tonga.
