2003-12-18

Royal Commonwealth Society Library. Cambridge University Library. University of Cambridge.

Image

228 x 176 mm. A view showing a European officer in charge of a squad of the police (unarmed and dressed in white). Behind them, and largely obscured, stands a squad of armed constabulary in blue blouses and white sarongs cut into a serrated pattern round the hem. Formed in the early 1870s, the force was used extensively against the hill tribes of the interior and in the days of King Cakobau this small army was said to have numbered 1400 men. The Europeans standing in the background have not been identified. The parade was to present medals to the Fijian boat crew and police who distinguished themselves during the rescue of survivors of the 'Syria' wreck in 1884. (This was the second ship to bring indentured Indians to Fiji. She was wrecked on Nasilai Reef, with the loss of 56 lives).

Suva (Oceania, Fiji, Central)

start=1885; end=1885; scheme=DCTERMS.W3CDTF