Motusa
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/97/Mofmanu_beach_in_Motusa%2C_Rotuma.jpg/300px-Mofmanu_beach_in_Motusa%2C_Rotuma.jpg)
Motusais a group of close villages in the district ofItu'tiu,on the island ofRotuma,one of the islands ofFiji.Rotuma is made up of twovolcanic landmassesconnected by a sandyisthmus,on which Motusa is located. For this reason it has one of the islands longest white sandy beach. Motusa also sits between the Islands two largestbay;Maka Bayto the North andHapmafau Bayto the South.
Motusa consists of the following places:
- Ạilala
- Agai Maftoa
- Atapisi
- Elseʻe
- Elsio
- Fagmạn
- Farsạu
- Fonmạn
- Hamatua
- Haroa
- Islepi
- Jumjumi
- Leitunoa
- Lum'ava
- Malniu[1]
- Mofmanu
- Tạnmohini
- Tia
- Tuifiriga
- Salagvaka
- Samoa
- Uanheta
- Upu
Motusa also has a primary school[2]known asMotusa District School,that consist of Year 1 to Year 8. Motusa is about one kilometer southwest ofAhau,the government station, which is also the location of the island's post office, and a small hospital. Ahau is now the administrative center of Rotuma, although for a long time Motusa, being the largest settlement, and one of the bestmoorings,was the centre of most business transactions and industry.[3]
Historical events
[edit]In 1871, a battle occurred here between Catholic and unconverted Motusan and theWesleyans.Christian missionaries backed by their respective nations (the Catholic French and Protestant Wesleyan British) exacerbated the pre-existing strained relationship between Motusan chiefs.[4]
The British flag was raised in Motusa on May 13, 1881, seven years after Fiji was ceded to the British. It was attended by Fiji's colonial governorWilliam Des Vœuxand the high chiefs of the seven districts of Rotuma.[5]
References
[edit]- ^"Rotuma spared by TC Mona".FijiTimes.Retrieved2021-08-08.
- ^"'I am here to serve and not to be served'".FijiTimes.Retrieved2021-08-08.
- ^Churchward, C. Maxwell (1938)."The History of Rotuma as Reflected in Its Language".Oceania.9(1): 79–88.ISSN0029-8077.
- ^Howard, Alan; Kjellgren, Eric (1994-12-01)."Martyrs, progress and political ambition: Re‐examining Rotuma's 'Religious Wars'".The Journal of Pacific History.29(2): 131–152.doi:10.1080/00223349408572768.ISSN0022-3344.
- ^"150th anniversary: Cession day on Rotuma".FijiTimes.Retrieved2021-08-08.