Tonga

Tonga is a Polynesian kingdom in the South Pacific, with a long history of chiefly authority and ceremony. Tattoos, clothing and ornaments helped people show identity and standing.

Early visitors described men's tattoos extending from the waist towards the thighs. The dense patterns looked like trousers. Accounts connect them with protection in battle and social identity, while women wore smaller decorative markings.

James Cook first visited in 1773 and called the group the Friendly Islands. The name reflected the hospitality his expedition received, but the story has an unexpected twist: during a later visit, some chiefs reportedly discussed killing him before abandoning the plan.

Public dances, kava gatherings and chiefly ceremonies reveal a richer island world than that nickname suggests. Personal appearance belonged to those occasions, where movement, dress and carefully chosen ornaments made people stand out.