Rotuman Dictionary

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ROTUMUM is located about 480 kilometres northerly of Fiji, on the west edge of Polynesia. It is very close to the crossroads of the traditional borders of Micronesia, Melanesia and Polynesia, and tracks of the impact of each of these areas can be found in the physique, languages and cultures of the island's people.

Despite Rotuma's political ties with Fiji since 1881, when the chieftains handed the country over to Britain, the Rotuman tribe is one of a kind and an unmistakable enslave within the Republic. It is situated at 12°30 S and 177°40 E. The highest crater is 260 metres high and of vulcanic origins.

This is split into two major parts connected by an aisle made of sandy material, which forms a whole structure of about 13 kilometres long and almost 5 kilometres broad. It covers an area of about 44 sqkm. Rotuma's first ever public enumeration took place in 1881, the year of its assignment to Great Britain.

Inhabitants were 2,452. When the overall number rose to 3,000 in the latter part of the 1930', emigration to Fiji became an important means of reducing demographic pressures. Fiji Islands 1936 91. Three per cent of the Rotumans lived on their home isle. Over the past few years, emigration has increased not only to Fiji but also to New Zealand, Australia and the USA.

Consequently, the number of inhabitants on the islands has fallen to around 2,500, which is less than 25 per cent of the overall number of red..... Language references indicate that Rotuman is part of a subgroup (Central Pacific) that encompasses Fiji and the Polynesian language; within this group there seems to be a particular relation between Rotuman and the language of Fiji in the West.

The origin of the Rotuma archaeological heritage will stay overshadowed. However, there is strong proof that there were migration from Samoa and Tonga after the first settlements, and other dates suggest that the Rotumans were in touch with Tuvalu (Ellice Islands) to the North-West and with Kiribati (Gilbert Islands) to the North-West, with Futuna and Uvea to the Easterly, and with Fiji to the Suth.

In 1791, the first contacts with Captain Edwards were made in H.M.S. Pandora, while he was looking for the mutineer of the Bounty. Throughout the first half of the 19th centuries, Rotuma became a popular place for whaling enthusiasts to stock up their stocks. The number of yachtsmen on board was considerable, and the number of beach goers was temporarily put at over 100.

As well as the scavengers, there were also workers who were willing to enroll Rotumans. In the middle of the 19th c. many Rotuman men had been abroad, and some had been to the centres of civilisation in Europe before they returned home. During the 1860s, Wesleyan and Latin Catholics from Europe settled on Rotuma and the islands were split between them.

As a result of subsequent riots, the chieftains of the seven quarters of Rothuma requested the annexation of Queen Victoria, and in 1881 the British were formally surrendered to the Isle. As part of the Fiji colony, Rothuma was ruled until 1970, when Fiji achieved its autonomy. It has been an integrated part of this isolated country ever since.

There is a sandy street circling the east part of the archipelago and stretching to the north and south sides of the south. Even though the islands are split into counties and the counties into towns, the settlements along the roads are almost uninterrupted and it is often inconclusive.

During the last years the trails have been broadened, and although they are still quite rugged, they make it possible to cross the island's inland. Rotuman homes were traditionally made of straw, but over the course of the years, lime, sawn timber and wavy metal sheets substituted much of the straw. Rotuma has no fresh running waters, and until recently stormwater in concrete or steel storage reservoirs was the primary sources of potable and swimming pool waters.

Most Rotuma homes cultivate orchards that provide basic food (taro, yam, tapioca, breadfruits and bananas). The whole isle is extremely fruitful, but the east side is rocky and rocky, which makes the work tough. Principal tools in the garden are the shrub blade to clear the ground and the dybble embroidery, which is used to drill into the soil to plant roots.

Though few men go deeper oceanic, the fringe wall that encircles the islands is used for a wide range of species including salmon, squid, shellfish and squid. It' s sold by the Rotuma Cooperative Association, which is the dominant force in the island's business world. Rotuman's most important crafts are Pandanus matting and basket.

Matting, particularly delicate whites, is at the center of Rotuman rituals, and has long been regarded as the principal source of the rich. Canoes are still made on a small-scale production, but apart from the food produced in two factories, the Rotumans do not manufacture goods for the industrial market. A runway was opened on Rotuma in 1981, but only a few goods are airlifted.

Maritime transport is erratic and exacerbates the issue of isolating Rotuma from prospective market. For example, Rotuman orange is known for its excellent qualities and is very plentiful, but is not yet used for commercial purposes due to the difficulty of storing and transporting it. Generally, Rotumans are following the general Polyynesian patterns of the work of working near where they live, while the work of men continues to take them farther out.

Possession of property. The country is important for the Reds both because of its symbolism and its existential value. With each fueraqi are connected portions of bushland, and belonging to a particular Kanaga qualifies for privileges in that country. Whoever is living on behalf of Füraq Rei is the administrator of the country and monitors it.

Sometimes it has been given to certain people for service or for sale, but for generation after generation it becomes again Cainaga country. In the 1950' and 1960', as the people of the islands reached their highest level, conflicts over the country got worse and were generally limited to family. However, in recent years emigration has reduced tension and the major issue now is often to identify which brothers and sisters will be left behind to farm the country and look after ageing families.

This is used to describe animals, plants and humans and is valid for persons who work during a lifetime crises ceremony (e.g. the bride's relatives) and for descending estates (see section on property). Rotuman weddings have always been organised by one' s parent, but usually with the previous agreement of the partner.

After its transfer to Great Britain in 1881, the town was ruled as an integrated part of the Fiji colony. After Fiji's 1970 liberation and the 1987 putsches, Robuma stayed with Fiji. The town is subdivided into seven independent counties, each with its own leader (gagaj 'es itu'u). They are subdivided into sub-groups of ho'aga (households), which act as working groups under the direction of a chieftain (gagaj 'es ho'aga).

Every county leader and the most Ho'aga leaders are called. Some men also carry unadministered degrees, although they are required to assume managerial responsibilities in supporting the governor of the area. He was the leader of the assembly and chairman of the county councillor's board and was in charge of the appointment of the sow and its proper care.

He was the head of the county that led the league that had won the last one. Kolonial rule consisted of the Fiji government appointing a Resident Commissioner (after 1935 a Rotuma County Officer). It was consulted by a committee consisting of the county leaders. By 1940, the board was extended to comprise one elective delegate from each of the districts and an assistant doctor.

After Fiji's independency in 1970, the Board took over Rotuma's administrative responsibilities, with the district counselor acting in an consultative capacity. Until the first putsch, Rotuma was a member of the Fijian legislative through a sole elector. The red are a meek nation; force is extremly seldom and there are almost no serious atrocities.

Before the assignment, the conduct of war in Rotuma was indigenous, albeit on a small-scale. As a result, rivalry was curbed during the Spanish colonization, as government powers were focused in the Resident Commissioner's and District Officer's office. After the second attempted coup d'état, when Fiji withdrew from the British Commonwealth of Nations, part of the Rotuman people refused to accept the Council's choice to stay with the recently proclaimed country.

On the grounds that Rotuma had been surrendered to Britain and not to Fiji, these insurgents made Rotuma incriminating. Most of those questioned seem to prefer to stay with Fiji, but there are still rumours of dissatisfaction. Rotuma's pre-Christian religions comprised several kinds of psychic beings, among them high deities, ancestors' spirits as well as locals.

You were asked for rains, fertile lands and prosperity all over the island. Moreover, it was thought that a series of free-range, mostly malicious ghosts, sometimes in the shape of abnormal beings, inhabited the area. In the 1860s, English Wesleyans and French Catholics proselytized the town.

Catholics, who make up about a third of the total populace, are located on the southern side of the isle. It was the sow and the Musa who were historically in charge of the ceremonial activity that appeased the high lords to secure the island's wealth. After proselytisation, these efforts were restricted and are now seen by most Rotumans as an example of demonic devotional.

Nowadays a significant number of Reds serve in the Christians as minister, laity preacher, steward and the like. Festive activities have an important place in the society of the isle. Ceremonies include: weddings, first birthday of first-born babies, burials and the revelation of gravestones one year after their deaths; welcome ceremonies for Rotarians who were not present or for first outside appointments of public officials; anniversary celebrations of historical causes such as the assignment and arrival of missions; and religious outreaches.

The most important art expressions at the moment of exposure were tattoos, individual ornamentation such as breast plates and chains as well as the production of delicate matting and tapas. Though occasionally on the island such articles are on sale at shows, they are not distributed abroad. Occidental medicines have largely superseded this traditional method of healing, although massages continue to be a favourite method of therapy.

The empire was split into areas corresponding to the places on the isle. Soul' s last rest place was at the west end of the archipelago, where the sundown. Rotumans used to bury their leaders under large basalt rocks, some of which were weighing several tonnes and carried over long stretches.

Sometimes after exposure guns from ships in Europe were used as gravestones. Learn to be Rotuman. Natives of Reduma. Split Island.