Tin Can Mail

By the 1960s, the Niufo'ou viceroy, Hon. Noble Fusitu'a, unofficial postmaster, was sending his outrigger canoe, painted green and pink with an outboard motor, to deliver and collect the tine can mail fromt he Matson passenger liners, Monterey and Mariposa. Tongan stamps taken aboard at Suva were sold to passengers between Suva and Niuafo'ou, posted ashore in the red tin can, and returned to the next liner bearing the authentic Tin Can Island postmark. Fusitu'a had built up an intricate gift exchange system with the officers of the liners as compensation for the onerous and unrewarding task of franking hundreds of dealers' letters and for fuel used to deliver and receive the mail. Fusitu'a received bundles of second-hand clothing and items of processed food witht he tina can mail, and sent back mats, baskets and other gifts from the people of Niuafo'ou.

In this song, the poet is making an analogy between the gifts from the Matson liners being shared out amongst the Niuafo'ou people by Fusitu'a, and the Development Project aid programmes which the Tonga Government had deployed in the main centres while ignoring the distant Niua islands. Psalm 13 begins, 'How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord? for ever?' Verse 1. The 'you' addressed is Tonga, i.e. Tongatapu, seat of Government. Verse 2. Because the Matson liners would stand off, whether Futu or Angahä, according to prevailing weather conditions. Verse 3. The wind blowing from the south a metaphor for the Tonga Radio Station, ZCO (now A3Z). Verse 4. Taha'i he kakala ni 'together in this collection of sweet-scented followers': Kakala is a metaphor for the incoming wealth of overseas aid and development projects. Femolimoli ke tau 'inasi is from the saying: me'a si'i femolimoli'i, me'a lahi taki taha kai a little is shared out in small portions; when there's a lot, each eats what he wants.

Talangata 'iate au 'o fai ki tu'a atu
'Oua na'a ke taku na kuo te fakatatau
Me'a sai tama ko e fakamanatu
Ki Tonga na ke te kau he lau

Ka 'aho vaka leva pea te lau matangi
Mariposa pe Monterey ke fakafetaulaki
Tafa'anga ke 'uta he ko hono tahi
Si'ane 'of ake tau 'inasi

Fanongo he matangi Tonga fakamafola si'eta koloa
Tuha mo e sola ke kai melie ka u inu 'a si'ono kona
Fëfë hono fuoloa ho'o fakangalongalo'i kita
Taha-tolu e Saame 'a Tëvita

'Otu Felenitë e si'ota huafa masani
Fotu si'a vülangi ngalo 'oku ta taha 'i he kakala ni
Mo'oni pë si'i lea taka 'i Tonga ni
'Io, femolimoli'i ke tau 'inasi

Tau
Tin Can Mail ë ongona ma'u pë
Si'o 'alu na ka te u 'amanaki pë
Ki si'a 'aho ho'o toe ha'u ko e langa'i manatu
Ke u 'inasi mai he monü ni ku ou lau
Toli mo fili 'i he si'oto mohu fakamanatu
Si'oto mätanga ko hai kita ni ke lau
Ta nofo pë mo 'uta ke pau ki siota kaha'u
Pe langa pe na kuo ta si'i ngalo 'i he manatu.

Pardon this commoner for speaking from the back bench
Don't think I presume to count myself with you
But it's a good thing for a fellow to remind
Tonga that we are part of the proceedings.

It's boat day and the subject is wind
Mariposa or Monterey, whichever we go to meet
Our outrigger sizes up the sea
And we all have our share of the bounty

We hear on the southerly broadcasts of aid
Outsiders get the sweetbreads while my drink is bitter
How much longer will you put me out of mind?
David, Psalm Thirteen.

"The Friendly Islands" is our peerless name
At the sight of a stranger you forget our common lot
There's some truth in the saying abroad in Tonga
Indeed, let's share and share alike.

Chorus
Tin Can Mail, received with keen appreciation
Farewell, and I'll look forward
To the day your return jogs a memory
Hoping I'll have a share of that bounty
Pick and choose from our abundant souvenirs
Our beauty spots -- who can describe them?
We'll stay at home and consider our future
Anxious lest we slip from recollection.

Garth Rogers ed., The Fire has Jumped. Eyewitness accounts of the eruption and evacuation of Niuafo'ou, Tonga, Suva, Fiji: IPS,USP, 1986.