Bati (Fiji)

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Bati are the traditional warriors of the Fiji Islands the word itself loosely translated means soldier, bodyguard in Fijian.[1] it is derived from the word meaning teeth or edge and In old Fiji two types of subjection were recognized called Qali and Bati[2][3], The Qali was a province or town subject to a Chief town and Bati denotes those which are not directly subject but less respected than the Qali[4][5], the Bati bordered an area subject to the Chief and provided him with a service[6], and from here derives the terms Mataqali and Bati.

Bati is now understood in Fijian Culture as the term for the island's traditional warrior class or caste[7][8]. The Bati are traditionally among the strongest Fijians[citation needed].

Each Fijian village has an intricate traditional infrastructure and a Chieftain will have a Bati Clan traditionally aligned with him.

[edit] Warrior Caste

There were several class of warrior or Bati, for example you could have Bati Balavu, these warriors would be the outer guard and would guard the chief from a great distance, then you would have Bati Leka these were the inner guard and bodyguards of the Chief, there was also Bati Kadi [9]which were mercenaries for hire[10].

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ Fijian - English Dictionary. Retrieved on 2007-02-05.
  2. ^ Fiji and the Fijians P16
  3. ^ Neither Cargo Nor CultP26,27
  4. ^ Fiji and the Fijians P16
  5. ^ Neither Cargo Nor CultP26,27
  6. ^ Neither Cargo Nor CultP26,27
  7. ^ Fiji Handbook of the Colony, P18
  8. ^ From Election to Coup in Fiji,P204 a translation of the word Bati
  9. ^ Tales from Old Fiji, By Lorimer Fison, Published 1907, P 20, 21
  10. ^ Tales from Old Fiji, By Lorimer Fison, Published 1907, P 20, 21

[edit] References

  • Fiji Handbook of the Colony: Special Wartime Issue, By Leonard G Usher, Published 1943, Original from the University of Michigan, Digitized 23 Nov 2005.
  • From Election to Coup in Fiji: The 2006 Campaign and Its Aftermath, By Jonathan Fraenkel, Stewart Firth
  • Tales from Old Fiji, By Lorimer Fison, Published 1907 A. Moring ltd., the Dela More press, Folklore, Original from the University of Michigan, Digitized 13 Dec 2006


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