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==== David Whippy ==== David Whippy (February 15,1802 - October 27,1871) Known as "Mata ki Bau" was a sailor,trader,farmer and the founder of LEVUKA town. David Whippy was one of a kind. From befriending the chiefs of Fiji at a time when cannibalism, tribal wars were rife to building a shipwright firm, there is no doubt this American led a very exciting and dangerous life.

The Whippys and Simpsons still live in Fiji and are now a very closely related family due to inter-marriages.

Mr Whippy met up with another man from Nantucket, William Cary whom he befriended. Cary had been shipwrecked in April 1825 on the island of Votua and was the sole surviving member after the rest of the crew had been subsequently massacred. He too held a similar personality to that of Mr Whippy and was being passed through the chiefly hierarchy until he finally made his way to Bau where he met up with Mr Whippy.

At that time Mr Whippy was in Levuka which was under the rulership of Bau. They were old play mates back in Nantucket. They both participated in warfare with the natives and this was not by their own choice, however, they did not part-take in the traditional practise of cannibalism. This practice was voraciously practiced in Fiji more than in any other country in the Pacific. Only briefly did some beachcombers encounter it in Tonga and in the Marquesas.

Mr Whippy began doing business dealings and assisting with ships and so on and eventually he became involved in the Fijian political affairs. He then grew in importance in Fiji and he was very well known especially with the number of ships that came to Fiji. They would either meet him or had heard of him and they would talk of his helpfulness, his knowledge of Fiji affairs and his influence over the Fijians.

He was instrumental with saving lives and ships from Fijian depredation on several occasions.

And during the Rewa and Bauan war for power, Mr Whippy played a fundamental role in Fijian politics. Since he was liked and trusted by many chiefs, he became ambassador for them and so was given the title, "Mata ki Bau".

In Levuka, Mr Whippy was trusted with all land transactions and deeds. He would enjoy the patronage of the Tui Levuka for 20 years until the chief met his demise on the Levuka Beach front.

He met the first of his three wives in Bau, Tulia of Namara, remembered as a tall woman with strongly marked features. Later, there was a woman from Koro, Eunice who bore him two sons, Thomas and Daniel and then there was Tokasa who was the daughter of the Tui Levuka whom he married in the Methodist Church and had five children.

Tulia of Namara was the mother of his eldest son also named David.

Now, Mr Whippy's influence was growing but he had begun to live less like a Fijian. He gathered around him a group of Whites and at Levuka where he formed a community that developed an ethos of its own, living in proximity with the Fijians and conforming to Fijian expectations but essentially working out their own way of life.

Boat building took over for him after he formed his new and improved firm for ship building. In 1846 Mr Whippy was appointed the honorary vice-consul from 1846-1856. His appointment was made on the instructions of the President of the United States through the secretary of state, Charles Wilkes. Wilkes was the commander of the United States Exploring Expedition which visited Fiji in 1839. There is more and more that can be said of this man's adventures and conquests. But to sum it all up, Mr Whippy played a vital role for the natives and also for the foreigners who came in.

Presently, the Whippys are one of Fiji's largest part-European families.