Mu'a (Tongatapu)

Mu'a
Coordinates	21 ° 11 ′  S , 175 ° 7 ′  W Coordinates: 21 ° 11 ′  S , 175 ° 7 ′  W
Basic data
Country	Tonga
division	Tongatapu
Lapaha with marked places that are relevant for the Tuʻi Tonga dynasty. All diamonds indicate the location of langi (except for the Fāʻonelua tree and the Futu-ko-Vuna tree and stone).

Mu'a is a small town in the eastern district of Hahake on Tongatapu Island . For centuries the place was the capital of Tonga . The place is divided into the settlements of Lapaha and Tatakamotonga . It is located near Talasiu and is famous for the historic langi (royal tombs).

Surname

In the many Tongan languages , mu'a means "first".

The ceremonial name of Lapaha is Paki mo e toʻi (picked with sap ), which refers to the many fragrant flowers that were regularly picked for the flower garlands ( kahoa ) with which the rulers were wreathed. Tatakamotonga has the nickname Kolokakala (scented city) and other variants of this name for the same reason .

Among these flowering plants, the mangrove species with the local name Fāʻonelua occupies a special position. The unique, large, beautiful red flowers were reserved for the Tuʻi Tonga and thus became a symbol of his rule.

geography

Mu'a is located on the eastern part of Tongatapu, on the eastern bank of the Tongatapu lagoon. The main part of the settlements stretches along the bank over a relatively narrow strip 50–200 m wide. This area consists mainly of alluvial land, but has now largely been filled with stone material through land reclamation projects. The historical part of the settlement extends on higher terrain inland and stands on red volcanic soil with high fertility. While the village of Hoi adjoins it to the north , Mu'a is divided into the settlements Talasiu , Lapaha and Tatakamotonga, which line the bank from north to south. Alaki connects to the south . Agricultural areas extend to the east. The straight spur roads lead to the east coast of the island to Haveluliku . In the lagoon to the west, the islets Mo'ungatapu and Mo'unu are upstream. On the opposite bank of the lagoon to the west is the Kauvai Palace .

climate

Monthly average temperatures and rainfall for Alaki, Tongatapu Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Max. Temperature ( ° C ) 28.9 28.9 28.9 27.8 26.1 25th 23.9 23.9 25th 26.1 27.2 27.8 O 26.6 Min. Temperature (° C) 22.2 22.8 22.8 22.2 20th 18.9 17.8 17.8 17.8 18.9 21.1 22.2 O 20.4 Precipitation ( mm ) 260 260 260 200 130 120 120 140 140 140 170 220 Σ 2,160 Source:

population

In 1996 there was a census in which 3900 people were counted. Projections assume approx. 5000 inhabitants. Most of the population is Catholic , as the last Tuʻi Tonga (King) who also lived in Lapaha was Catholic. There is also a strong Wesleyan ( Salvation Army ) community in Tatakamotonga . Some people have recently converted to Mormonism .

In Tatakamotonga there is a state primary school and a high school of the Wesleyan Church (Tapunisiliva, Eastern Branch of Tupou High School). Lapaha also has a state primary school and a high school of the Catholic Church (Takuilau).

history

Already 2000 years ago, Mu'a was a center of the Lapita culture in Tonga and from the 12th to the 16th century AD it was the headquarters of the Tongan Empire . Even after the end of the empire, the town remained the capital of the Tuʻi Tonga. Until the 19th century, the place was more of a spiritual center for the rulers.

The Tuʻi Tonga (King) and his court lived in Lapaha, the residence was Olotele and ʻAhofakasiu , while the whereabouts of the women was called Takuilau (today a high school bears this name, but it is in a different place). Subordinate chiefs and servants lived in Tatakamotonga.

In the 15th century the Tuʻi Tonga dynasty lost power and the Tuʻi Haʻatakalaua became the de facto rulers, and in the following century the Tuʻi Kanokupolu ultimately took power. The chiefs of these clans were not welcome in Mu'a and had to stay in the lower coastal areas, separate from the "real" chiefs (the Tu'i Tonga). This area was demarcated by the Hala Fonuamoa (Dry Land Road) and the residents were referred to as kauhalalalo (Low Road People), while those on the hill were referred to as kauhalaʻuta (Inland Road People). This classification still designates two important moieties ( family relationships ) in Tonga today . The Tu'i Kanokupolu moved the seat of power to Nukualofa .

• 

  Langi Tuʻofefafa, with a cemetery at his foot

• 

  Langi Tauʻatonga

• 

  Langi Nā Moala, after Tuʻipelehake's funeral

Gravesites

Although the Tu'i Tonga lost their political power to their rivals, their religious importance grew and they had possibly more influence as high priests than in the lost functions as kings. The Tu'i Tonga were buried in one of the large burial mounds, a langi , of which about two dozen are still intact in Lapaha. The Tuʻi Haʻatakalaua were also buried in similar tombs, but these are referred to as fale .

Langi are large, man-made mounds that are bordered by large plates of coral rock that were usually set up in three or more layers. The stones came from various quarries along the coast of Tongatapu or neighboring smaller islands. The stones consist of hardened coral sand that has been hardened by the tides in 10–20 cm thick layers. These stones were transported by boat and are machined with impressive accuracy.

One of the best preserved langi is the Paepae-o-Teleʻa . What is special about this Langi is that the corner stones actually have an L-shape.

There are legends that the stones were brought from ʻUvea by magic . However, volcanic rocks predominate in ʻUvea. In the 18th century, Tufui wrote the poem Laveofo , in which he refers to this legend.

" Ko e Pangaimotu mo Makahaʻa
tuʻu mai ʻa e motu ko Fafā
naʻe fai ai e tā maka
ʻo uta ki Langi Taetaea
mo e ʻotu langi fua ʻo Muʻa
German transmission:

The islands of Pangaimotu and Makahaʻa
and here the island of Fafā
where the stone breaking was done
and which were brought to the (grave) hill Taetaea
and the whole series of hills of Muʻa. "

The last Tuʻi Tonga, Laufiltonga , was buried in the langi Tuʻofefafa. His grave is still marked with a large cross as he converted to Catholicism before his death.

The langi are still used today as burial places. When the Kalaniuvalu boss died in 1999, he was buried in the Paepae o Teleʻa . When the Tuʻi Pelehake - Chief, ʻUluvalu and his wife Kaimana died in 2006, they became in the langi Nā Moala .

On the border between Talasiu and Lapaha there are also remains of the foundations of evon fortifications.

The matāpule (title) Makalangahiva mentions the following langi:

• Langi Tuʻo teau
• Langi Kātoa
• Langi Fanakava ki langi
• Langi Tuʻo fefafa
• Langi Tau 'a tonga
• Langi Malu'a tonga
• Langi Leka
• Langi Sinai
• Langi Taetaea
• Langi Fa'apite
• Langi Tofā et al
• Langi Nukulau ʻuluaki
• Langi Nukulau et al
• Langi Fo'ou
• Langi Hahake
• Langi 'o Luani
• Langi Tauhala
• Langi Paepae ʻo Teleʻa (also: Paepae o Teleʻa)
• Langi Nā Moala
• Langi Hēhēa
• Langi ʻEsi ʻa e kona
• Langi Malomaloaʻa
• Langi Nakuli ki langi
• Fale Loʻāmanu
• Fale Fakauō
• Fale Tui (nga) papai
• Fale Pulemālō
• Fale Tauhakeleva

Individual evidence

1. ↑ geonames.org .
2. ↑ Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Alaki, Tongatapu , March 2019. (English).
3. ↑ unesco .
4. ↑ The islands Pangaimotu and Makahaʻa
   and standing here the island of Fafā
   where the cutting of stone was done
   and taken to the mound Taetaea
   and the whole row of mounds of Muʻa.

literature

• EW Gifford: Tongan placenames , BPB 111 , 1923.

Web links

• easyvoyage.de
• unesco : tentative list of world heritage.