Toki Ukamea: The story of William Mariner

In 2007, an online listing for a unique copy of Mariner's account was discovered in a bookstore in Canada. In the blank pages in the back of this copy was a letter, a transcription of a letter written in Tongan and addressed to a William Mariner. The book, it turned out, once belonged to Mariner's daughter and the letter in the back pages was transcribed from an actual letter that was delivered to Mariner from Mafihape.

A European vessel is spotted in the western horizon of Vava'u and no one is more excited than William Mariner. Our boy is going home!

What does a post-'Ulukālala look like? For one thing, his son, Moengāngonga, the new Finau, proves to be a much different ruler than his father. He's kinder and gentler, with a mind focused on revitalizing agriculture and cultivating the happiness of his people. And then here's the issue of Tupouto'a in Ha'apai. Is he a threat or an ally? And what will they do with the annual 'inasi now that the Tu'i Tonga is residing in Vava'u but Finau has cut off all contact with Ha'apai and Tongatapu.

Shortly after his daughter Saumailagi passed away, Finau 'Ulukālala falls ill during the post-funeral celebrations. From Mariner's description of his condition, it seems like the great warrior king of Vava'u succumbed to heart failure. He eventually passes away too, and in his dying breath he utters the word "fonua." Vava'u prepares for a state funeral for 'Ulukālala while his son, Moengangongo, advised by his widely respected and wise uncle Finau Fisi, assumes leadership. He renounces war with the neighboring islands and isolates Vava'u from the rest of Tonga, and instead admonishes his people to focus their energies on rebuilding Vava'u.

Saumailagi, a young daughter of Finau 'Ulukālala falls ill. He pleads with the gods to spare her life but Saumailagi's condition shows no improvement. Mariner witnesses and documents the funerary customs at Saumailagi's funeral, a mix of Samoan and 'Ulukālala's own twist on tradition, perhaps, as Mariner theorizes, an act of defiance to the gods and tradition. And unexpectedly, 'Ulukālala's health suddenly declines.

In this episode, will Tupoumalohi get the pardon he seeks from Finau 'Ulukālala?

In this episode, Mariner provides an update on the happenings in Tongatapu which led to Tupoumālohi, an enemy of 'Ulukālala, to flee from Tongatapu and seek refuge in Ha'apai. And we learn more about the fascinating story of Elizabeth Morey, an American woman from Massachusetts, who endured a similar fate as Mariner years before his arrival, and her relationship with Teukava, the chief who provided Finau 'Ulukālala with kalae birds in a previous episode. Other characters from previous episodes are also referenced in latest chapter of Mariner's account.

This episode is about the famed navigator Kau Moala who spent 14 years in Fiji. We also learn about the origins of the Tongan phrase Vete Fakafutuna, a legacy of our navigating history.

Finau 'Ulukalala is not content until he can remove all his rivals in Vava'u. He does so when he calls a fono at Makave, only to use the opportunity to capture and destroy anyone who would be a threat to his rule. Eighteen Vava'u warriors were executed, including the great Vava'u warrior chiefs Kakahu, Naufahu and Pupunu, who chose to be drowned in leaky canoes. Mariner inherits the plantation Matato'a and he goes on an expedition to procure whale teeth from a beached whale while recounting a similar incident in Ha'apai. A ship arrives in Vava'u and Mariner is suddenly presented with an opportunity to return back to England.

The war is over and Finau 'Ulukālala indulges in some recreation, namely, hunting kalae and rat. We learn more about these two sports, we get to learn about the story of the islands Tofua and Kao in Ha'apai, we learn about the tale of Mariner's Cave in Nuapapu, Vava'u, and Finau 'Ulukālala critiques the European invention of money and currency. And just when you think he was becoming likable again he does the unthinkable....

The war in Vava'u is drawing out longer than Finau 'Ulukālala had anticipated. The Vava'uans have dug in at their might fortress in Feletoa. Under To'eumu's leadership, they are not budging. The war has taken many lives on both sides and Finau is getting desperate because they are running out of provisions. Is peace in the horizon?

It's a brutal battle of attrition with no clear resolution, yet it claims many innocent lives. These are truly dark times during the war and Finau 'Ulukālala is rethinking his next strategy. Could peace be just around the horizon?

The battle between 'Ulukālala's Ha'apai forces and the Vava'uans are at a stalemate. Overtaking the Fatungakoa fortress wasn't the cakewalk 'Ulukālala had hoped for. Both sides score little victories in a battle of attrition. They also have defectors and spies, passing on valuable intel to each camp that could help decide the battle once and for all.

Vava'u be like we are ready for you! So they built the biggest fort in Tonga and named it Fatungakoa. 'Ulukalala and his war party arrive in Vava'u and make their encampment in Neiafu, a consecrated area in Vava'u. They march to Feletoa, three miles away to begin their assault on the fortress and make the people of Vava'u submit to Finau 'Ulukalala's rule. Will Fatungakoa withstand 'Ulukalala's destructive carronades that brought down the Nuku'alofa fortress, the strongest fort in Tongatapu, in an hour? Got questions? Send them to my email rwolfgramm@gmail.com.

After Tupouniua's assassination, the people of Vava'u return home and so are sick of Finau 'Ulukālala's shit so they build the biggest fort ever in Tongan history in Feletoa called Fatungakoa. Toe'umu, Vava'u's new leader and also 'Ulukālala's aunt, garrisons the entire citizenry of the island in and around the perimeters of the fort. 'Ulukālala is furious at this act of rebellion from Vava'u's chiefs and Toe'umu and prepares to go to war. However, his priests advise him against it and to first propose a peaceful resolution. Got questions? Send them to rwolfgramm@gmail.com

In this episode, no one is immune from Finau 'Ulukalala's ambition, even his own brother. (Title taken from Wu-Tang Clan's song Tearz) I ran frantically, then I dropped down to his feet I saw the blood, all over, the hot concrete I picked him up, then I held him by his head His eyes shut, that's when I knew he was... Aw man! How do I say goodbye? It's alway the good ones who have to die

In episode 6, we take a break from all the violence and bloodbath to enjoy ourselves at the Fakalahi ceremonies in Ha'apai and while we are at it, sure, let's have a wedding! This episode is titled "Candy Licker" because Finau 'Ulukalala's got game, y'all!!!! He's a ruthless warrior, a tender father, a loving husband, and a candy licker!

WARNING: In this episode, I say the F word (for those of you listening with your parents lol) Mariner is unofficially enlisted into Finau 'Ulukālala's war on the chiefs of Tongatapu. His knowledge of arms procured from the Port au Prince proves to be valuable to 'Ulukālala who hasn't been able to successfully take Tongatapu for nine years since the assassination of Tuku'aho.

I answer all your questions. Send your questions to rwolfgramm@gmail.com, leave us a short voicemail on our Anchor page or call and leave a longer voicemail on our Google Voice number (385) 347-0906.

Episode 4: Finau 'Ulukālala's War Mariner finally resigns himself to the reality that he is stuck in Tonga, perhaps forever. To make matters worse, he finds himself in the middle of a brewing civil between Tonga's powerful chiefs vying for power. It's the classic case of out of the frying pan and into the fire. Mariner provides some background into the key players and the major event that started the war—the assassination of the Tu'i Kanokupolu named Tuku'aho—in which Finau 'Ulukālala II was a co-conspirator. Song: Fonuamotu by the Afokoula Singers