CULTURE
Dance in Tonga has traditionally
been an important art form, turning oral histories and folk tales
into a visual form praising and honouring gods, chiefs, places
and people. Weaving with the leaves of the pandanus palm is at
its zenith as an art form in Tonga, and baskets and intricately
worked mats produced by a variety of means are among the most
beautiful in the Pacific. A reasonable body of literature has
been produced in or about the archipelago in spite o f its tiny
size, and some of it goes beyond oral histories and folk tales.
The earliest accounts are by castaway Will Mariner and Captain
Bligh after he lost command of his ship. There are also several
more recent collections of poetry and prose by contemporary writers.
The extended family is the
basic social unit on Tonga, and it serves as a mini welfare state,
with wealth, food and goods shared equally among all members.
The concept of the communal extended family is so fundamental
in Tongan life that parents have no real sense of 'possession'
of their children, who are frequently shifted from one household
to another, and may have several places to call home as a result.
Gifts are given as a matter of course to new friends and even
foreigners, so it pays to have a few tins of corned beef or souvenirs
from home to give away so you can join in. These customs were
already deeply ingrained by the time the missionaries arrived,
and from Ha'apai, where the Wesleyans first started gathering
souls, Christianity took a strong hold throughout the archipelago,
wiping out most indigenous spiritual beliefs in its wake. Today
the Mormons are spreading their influence and building churches
throughout the islands.
Tongan
food is delightful, and consists mostly of root vegetables such
as taro and sweet potato, coconut products, fresh fruit, roasted
suckling pig, chicken, corned beef, fish and shellfish. The delicious
dishes made from these ingredients are an excuse in themselves
to visit the islands. The traditional Tongan feast gets cooked
in an underground oven, umu, common throughout Polynesia.
The most refreshing drink available is coconut juice, and the
locally grown Royal Coffee is excellent if you're after a caffeine
hit. Beer is popular, and of course kava (Piper methysticum),
the all purpose forget-your-cares-and-stare-at-the-sunset tipple,
is widely available. Unfortunately, junk foods are making inroads,
and islander's health is suffering considerably.
