In 2014, the remains of six laborers from the Solomon Islands, buried for over a century on Nawi Island in Savusavu Bay, were excavated. This somber event took place in the presence of police as members of the Miller family from Nukunuve conducted the exhumation. It was reported that various items, including a bottle of liquor, a mouth organ, and fragments of coffins belonging to the Melanesians who came to Fiji during the blackbirding period starting in the 1860s, were discovered.
The Fiji Times noted that the exhumation aimed to facilitate hotel development on Nawi Island. The remains, which had been on the island for approximately 180 years, were subsequently relocated to Nukunuve for reburial.
However, a significant figure, believed to be of Samoan royal lineage and affectionately known as Mouga, remains undisturbed atop one of Nawi Island’s highest hills. Historical accounts suggest that she eloped with a Mr. Miller, an ancestor of the current Miller family in Fiji. There is some ambiguity regarding whether her partner was “William Miller” or “D.B. Miller,” with some sources indicating they were brothers.
Nawi Island, located in a scenic harbor beside the town of Savusavu, is characterized by its lush landscapes. The tale of how Mouga came to be interred in a prominent location is a captivating love story. Recently, a team from The Sunday Times climbed the hills of Nawi to uncover more about her life and legacy.
Genealogical records accessed on www.geni.com state that Mouga, who held chief status, was named Aheamauga Lalomauga Mona Miller (née Maloka) and married Daniel Bathe Miller, a shipwright who brought her from her village in Samoa to Fiji. Daniel, born in Ovalau, Levuka in 1816, was one of two brothers who emigrated from Bathe, England, forming the initial Miller presence in Fiji. One of the brothers fell in love with a woman from a royal background in Upolu, Samoa, and following familial opposition to an interracial marriage, she made the difficult choice to depart her home and join her beloved in Fiji.
According to records on the same genealogy website, Mouga was born in the 1820s in Fasitoʼotai, Upolu, Samoa, making her over 200 years old if she were alive today. She had three children: two sons, Jim and William Henry Miller II, and a daughter named Maunga (Mauna) Miller. Later accounts indicate she died in “Vanua Levu” and was buried in “Savusavu,” specifically on Nawi Island.
A 2019 article in The Fiji Times highlights that her eldest son married into a prominent family, linking Mouga’s lineage further into Fiji’s history. The same website also reveals that Mouga, who descended from the chiefly Toleafoa family, had two other daughters, Serah and Alice, along with her already-listed children.
The Miller family was consulted in 2014 regarding the plans to remove the laborers’ graves, yet it was agreed that Mouga’s resting place would remain undisturbed to serve as a tourist attraction. In August 2023, a team visited Nawi Island to photograph her grave, which is designated as a protected reserve.
Reaching Mouga’s grave entailed a $5 boat trip from Waitui Marina followed by a hike across scenic hills, taking about 30 minutes in total. The grave, a simple mound, overlooks the town and enjoys fresh ocean breezes. The tour guide shared that Mouga was buried at the summit alongside her husband and a young daughter.
Sophie Ralulu, a team photographer, described the hike as strenuous but mentioned that the breathtaking view upon reaching the grave made the effort worthwhile. The narrative of Mouga and her final resting place serves as a lasting testament to the strength of love and the legacy of women who connect families across the globe.
This lineage has resulted in many of Mouga’s female descendants marrying into mixed-European families around the north, contributing to a diverse tapestry that connects them to various notable families in the region.
If you have stories about your family history or artifacts, the Sunday Times invites you to share them.
It is acknowledged that differing perspectives on historical events may exist, and receiving multiple accounts is encouraged for a comprehensive understanding of history.