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Unidentified photographer/creator
Chief Cakobau of Bau, the self-proclaimed King of Fiji
n.d.
Carte de visite
Paul Frecker
LL/12030
Paul Frecker provides the following comments:
"During the 1840's Chief Cakobau of Bau, with the assistance of the Europeans and their firearms, began to extend his control of Viti Levu and several islands. By 1850 the white settlers were calling him Tui Viti (King of Fiji), and he converted to Christianity to secure European support. In fact he was only one war-lord among many. His domination was in one limited area in Western Fiji, while the east was controlled by Ma'afu, a Tongan chief who had gained control over the Lau group.
In 1858, the British became concerned by the interest being shown by France and the United States in the islands and sent their consul, Pritchard, to claim them. Cakobau, who was in debt to some American residents who has sold him firearms, offered to cede the islands to Britain in return for the payment of his debts. Pritchard took the offer to London but the government, but no doubt preoccupied elsewhere, failed to act. During the following years hundreds of Islanders were taken from their homes and forced into slavery in the Fijian plantations.
In 1871 Cakobau attempted to form a Western-style government but this collapsed after just two years. In 1873 the acting British consul sought British annexation of Fiji, and on 10 October 1874 it was pronounced a British colony and a capital was established at Suva."
Photographer unidentified.
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