Kabua the Great

Kabua worked with western missionaries and copra traders to expand his wealth and political power.

[1] He was a famous warrior in his youth, and may have led the attack on the ship Sea Nymph at Jaluit Atoll in 1852.

[2] He was the younger of two nephews of iroijlaplap Kaibuke of Ebon Atoll, who died during a typhoid fever outbreak in 1863.

[4] Both chiefs sought support from foreigners by befriending missionaries and working with German copra traders in order to maintain influence.

Loiak staged frequent military drills on Ebon and stockpiled weapons in late 1876, but Kabua's invasion never occurred.

[2][6] On November 26, 1878, the German warship SMS Ariadne anchored at Jaluit to begin treaty negotiations with the iroij of the Ralik Chain.

During the second day of negotiations, Captain Bartholomäus von Werner [de] ordered his men to give a military demonstration featuring a bayonet charge, a rapid firing demonstration, and use of artillery blanks, which he later said was intended to "show the islanders, who have not seen anything like it before, the power of the Europeans."

Germany secured a fuelling station at Jaluit and free use of the atoll's harbor for German vessels.

On October 13, 1885, the German corvette SMS Nautilus docked at Jaluit to obtain signatures on a treaty of protection.