The final tribal war of 'Verata' for 'Cakobau'.

King of Fiji Title.

Ratu Vueti and his tribe, according to legend was the fourth generation from Ratu Lutunasobasoba of ‘Nakauvadra’ who settled in Verata, Tailevu and claimed paramount ruler, chief and warrior of Fiji.

 

The warriors of Ratu Vueti were protected by a plant (Leba) that grew at the gates of their settlement and would flower to warn at every enemy attack. They were considered paramount in the land being the eldest lineage of ‘Ratu Lutunasobasoba’ and claimed authority and power in Fiji.  

 

In a plot to eliminate Verata’s supremacy, ‘Cakobau’ sent some messengers to the mountains to 'Vutikalulu' and the legendary warriors of the ‘Naloto’ tribe seeking support for his quest for power and rulership over Fiji. The messengers took with them Whale’s tooth or ‘Tabua’ that is traditionally used for special requests to a Chief.  As they swam along the coast of ‘Verata’ towards the mountains, the warriors of ‘Verata’ shouted to these messengers to identify themselves and asked where they were going. The messengers shouted back saying they were just collecting beach-de-mer or ‘Dri’.

 

The warriors of ‘Naloto’ were later known as ‘Dritabua’ meaning ‘Dri’ as Beach-de-mer and ‘Tabua’ as whales tooth to signify this event at sea. The Rugby Club and Dairy Cooperative Farm of ‘Naloto’ today is also called ‘Dritabua’.

 

The warriors of ‘Naloto’ and their allies accepted war over Ratu Vueti’s warriors defeating them and burning their village to ashes thus giving the ‘Vunivalu’ or Ratu Cakobau claim of the ‘Tui Viti’ or King of Fiji title. It was said that the flower or ‘Seni-leba’ failed to warn the ‘Verata’ warriors this time due to the spiritual powers of the ‘Rara’ priest of ‘Naloto’ and their method of attack. 'Vutikalulu' and his army approached the 'Ratu' of Verata's village at 'Ucunivanua' from the sea in the middle of the night, slaughtered, and torched their heathen god temples.

 

The Tui Viti title traces its origin back to Bau and first came into prominence in the late 1840’s when it was used by Ratu Tanoa Visawaqa ( - 1852), Vunivalu of Bau and father of Ratu Seru Cakobau. It is recorded that he personally came to use the title in recognition of his political influence over other chiefly states, for instance in Rewa where he was "Vasu-Levu" (high ranking matrilineal descent), Naitasiri, Cakaudrove and Lau where he had forged strong alliances and in Macuata where he was able to effectively intervene in the feuds of the ruling family to establish Ritova as Tui Macuata and as such gaining an ally. As the title was never a traditional one and as Bauan influence did not extend to the whole of Fiji, Ratu Tanoa Visawaqa’s claim to it is often viewed by historians as self proclaimed, driven by astute ambition which would to a certain degree work to the advantage of his successor, his son Ratu Seru Cakobau

Today the people of ‘Naloto’ have become the ‘Bati Leka’ or ‘Warriors’ of the ‘Vunivalu’ or Chief of ‘Bau’ island.