01 February 1951
Arrive Vava'u 06.48am
…little visited Friendly Island domain of Amazonian Queen Salote…where Tonga drums and tribal choruses intone the ritual laka-laka dance…site of the langis, archaeologically mystifying huge coral blocks perfectly fitted into the tombs of Tonga kings.
Log Abstract…
At: 6.48am (LT) Vava'u arrival
Passage: 1 day, 11 hours, 52 mins.
Voyage Distance: 332 miles
Average Speed: 9.47 knots
At: 6.04pm (LT) Vava'u departure
Arrival Time
The CARONIA is due to enter the harbour of Vava'u at 7.30am and will anchor about 11 miles off the village of Neiafu.
Departure Time
The CARONIA will sail at 5.30pm sharp.
[Photo: Caronia - Peter Stevens Collection]
Vava'u of the Friendly Isles (Tonga)
Tonga…
Is a Constitutional Monarchy over which Great Britain established a protectorate in 1900, and the present ruling monarch is Queen Salote, an imposing figure who stands well over six feet in height, who resides in Nukualefa.
The Tongan Kingdom…
Is divided into three main groups of islands which are of coral formation - Tongatabu, where the capital, Nukualofa, is situated; Haapai; and Vava'u, which is much higher and more strikingly beautiful than the other groups, which tend to be flat in appearance.
The Island of Vava'u…
Largest of the Vava'u group, is famous for its almost completely land-locked harbour where there are islands of coral rock up to 600 feet in height. The small port of Neiafu is reached after steaming some miles up a sound of distinct beauty; although the port itself is seldom visited.
In fact the whole Tongan group is off the main Pacific trade routes, it does portray a typical small South Pacific trading post where the visit of a large vessel is a moment of great import in the lives of the people.
The Population…
Of Tonga amounts to less than 40,000 mostly native Tongans, a light brown skinned Polynesian people who are regarded as among the finest people of this race and intensely proud of their island Kingdom. Tongans have carefully preserved the names of their rulers for more than one thousand years. The present Queen traces her descent from ancient chiefs who governed the Tongan group before the Norman Conquest of England.
