Abstract
MEGALITHIC WORKS IN FIJI.—In Man for February, Mr. James Hornell figures and describes some of the megalithic sea works and temple platforms at Mbau in Fiji. Mbau is the most historic place in Fiji and was the seat of government of Chief Thakombau, who in the middle of the last century brought many of the other chiefs under subjection. The sea works which are described consist of a number of docks and piers into which the big outriggers and double canoes were run. Of these docks there are now twenty-five, some of which were made during the latter part of the last century by dividing up the larger docks. The sides of the wharves are protected in three different ways, of which the most characteristic is by means of large slabs of rock set on edge, of various sizes running up to n feet 8 inches in height. Little attempt has been made to shape them. The most important of these docks was probably the ceremonial landing-place of the head of the dominant community. Prisoners of war were possibly also landed here and brained for the ceremonial feast. As regards the age of these structures, a comparison with a similar structure at Mua (Tongatabu), which may be connected with the sons of the Tongan king Tui-ta-tui, suggests the end of the thirteenth century as a possible date.
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Research Items. Nature 117, 320–321 (1926). https://doi.org/10.1038/117320a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/117320a0