brother the Taukei ni Waluvu, Ratu Meli Davetanivalu who was frail, was part of the Vunivalu of Bau, Ratu Seru Cakobau's entourage to Levuka Ovalau for cession on 10 October 1874. As a village loyal to the new religion of Christianity and later central government, Nairukuruku was a potential target for attack by non-Christian neighbours resisting Cakobau's interference in their affairs. Nairukuruku became known as na Bau ni Colo or "the Bau (island) of the highlands" due to its rise as the seat of political power. It became the call centre for all colonial visitors into the eastern highlands of Viti Levu. The first European females to visit Nairukuruku and indeed the highlands were writer Constance Gordon-Cumming and Reverend Fredrick Langham's wife Ann Elizabeth, who had accompanied the minister to the Christian enclave village where they spent Christmas in 1875. Ms Gordon-Cumming mused, "indeed we are the first specimens of the race whom they have seen!" During her three-day Christmas stay at Nairukuruku she also captures in her annals, a mass Christian marriage ceremony, a mass native school examination and native life in general that was coming into contact with western civilization. Her water-colour painting of Nairukuruku village and its spectacular surrounds on Christmas Day 1875 is a rare depiction of Viti Levu's eastern highlands landscape. Customs and traditions The Taukei ni Waluvu and his subject hill tribes are warriors (bati balavu) foremost to the ancient tribal state of Verata and also to the pre-colonial states of Waimaro, Namosi and Bau. In addition with the Tui Kaba Clan of Bau, the vanua of Nabena is ‘Veitabani’ or share the same ancestors who are cross cousin related. With these pre-colonial states the Taukei ni Waluvu also has the traditional veibatiki relationship which is still extant today. The clan name Bale drokadroka illustrates the tribe's warrior status.Bale drokadroka in Fijian literally means 'to fall whilst still green'. It is also a metaphorical phrase that means 'to die young'. The name in fact valorizes a young warrior that fell in battle; hence it is a name that belongs to warrior clans. A fallen warrior may have been known by another name but because he died young the word phrase bale drokadroka eulogizes his ultimate warrior feat- to fall in battle for the cause of his tribe. As recorded, Roraiova was renowned for spreading the clan's power through his valu ni lulu skirmishes against