The Prime Minister, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara and Adi Lady Lala Mara, led the hundreds of people to pay their last tribute to Adi Litia.

Other prominent people were the deputy PM Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau, Ratu David Toganivalu, the Minister for Labour and Mr Charles Walker, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forests.

Fijians from the 13 villages that make up the vanua of Nakelo came in large numbers to perform their traditional duties and tasks in a day of solemn ceremonies.

Hundreds of women in black lined the roadside while guards in traditional costumes policed the village to give their chief their last respects.

The village of Nauluvatu observed silence for more than seven hours before the burial ceremony.

The only sound came from clapiing beside the yaqona bowl during the yaqona and kamunaga ceremony.

Small children were kept indoors and no one was allowed to wander aimlessly around the village.

The periodic beat of the wooden lali signified the burial was near.

The president of the Methodist Church in Fiji, Reverend Daniel Mustapha, headed the church service and conducted the burial ceremony.

Adi Litia, reigned as Tui Nakelo for more than 30 years.

She succeeded her brother, the late Ratu Luke Raiwalui.