The Fire Has Jumped

Eyewitness accounts of the eruption and evacuation of Niuafo'ou, Tonga

It seems that the people of the isolated Niua's just can't get a good deal (or maybe they just love the place.) Niuafo'ou had a major volcanic eruption (making it sound like there are times when volcanic eruptions are not major) and more recently they've had gale force winds blowing down trees, houses, ripping up crops etc. etc. etc.

Garth Rogers ed., The Fire has Jumped. Eyewitness accounts of the eruption and evacuation of Niuafo'ou, Tonga, Suva, Fiji: IPS,USP, 1986. is a wonderful collection of translated recountings by the people of Niuafo'ou (and others in Niufo'ou at the time) about the day Niufo'ou went to the sky.

As we kept on going up, I felt that I could no longer hold onto our bag of clothes and carry Liku'one, so I threw our bag of clothes into the bush. As we went up, as time went on, I felt the heat and the scorching of the fire on my back, and as a result another fearful thought occurred to me, that I should throw away my poor little girl and go on myself and survive. Of course I couldn't see the fire behind me any more, but in my mind the fire was very close to getting us, and from the rumbling of the lava flow it seemed as if it would rush up and get us.

The book collects together the thoughts, impressions, of a people under siege with a rumbling mountain that finally gave way to flowing lava. But that isn't the end of the tale, because the collection of stories/memories also point to people; husbands and wives bringing up their children, communities enjoying an evening after footie practise, preparing for choir practise.

The greater part of the telling of the volcanic eruption, wasn't the day of the event, but the days/hell people went through after the event. In a mess of confusion, misdirected activities the people of Niuafo'ou are evacuated from their home and land. The Fire has Jumped recalls the days of the eruption and what it was like for Niufo'ou residents on their evacuation, and final return.

The book well covered from the farmer's recollections to the government official and to the poets and songwriters, and businessmen. Wendy Pond does a wonderful job of annotating/describing the songs and works of lament by the people of Niuafo'ou for the home they have left behind.

The book is a good reflection on the realities of living with a live volcanoe, and what it is like to be administered from outside.

The Fire has Jumped
Eyewitness accounts of the eruption and evacuation of Niuafo'ou, Tonga

Eyewitness accounts by:
Pisila Fusitu'a
The Hon. Tevita Fusitu'a
Sister Mary Julia
Palenapa Lavelua
Sione Malekamu Manu
Siaosi Telefoni Ongoloka
Dougal Quensell
Fr Edward Schahl
Moeaki Täkai
Luseane Ta'ufo'ou
Tu'alau'eiki

Interviews by
Wendy Pond
Thomas Riddle
Garth Rogers

Songs by:
Kitione Mamata

Edited by:
Garth Rogers

[ref: http://www.tongatapu.net.to]
Tonga on the 'NET