| “ | He was wrapped in some sort of dark ulster or blanket, which left only his face exposed, but that face was enough to give a man a sleepless night. Never have I seen features so deeply marked with all bestiality and cruelty. His small eyes glowed and burned with a sombre light, and his thick lips were writhed back from his teeth, Which grinned and chattered at us with half animal fury. | „ |
| ~ Dr. Watson's description of Tonga. |
Tonga is a minor antagonist in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's 1890 novel The Sign of the Four.
He is Jonathan Small's henchman, carrying out murders and attacks on behalf of him.
He was portrayed by Kiran Shah in the 1987 TV film adaptation of The Sign of Four. Shah reprised this role for the 1991 TV film adaptation of The Crucifier of Blood. Shah also portrayed Ginarrbrik in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and Blunder in Legend.
Personality[]
Tonga is a volatile man from the Andaman Islands. He still acts as he would have in his tribe. He appears to show loyalty to Johnathan Small. He is violent and aggressive.
Appearance[]
Tonga is described as very short. It is not known if this is due to a defect or genetic. He has dark skin and dark hair, which is described to be tangled.
Biography[]
Background[]
It is known that Johnathan Small found Tonga in the Andaman Islands, and took Tonga with him to be his assistant/henchman. Tonga helped Small escape the island from his tribe by boat and remained with Small ever since. Small would then use Tonga as an oddity attraction to make money whilst he searched for the lost treasure of Agra.
The Sign of Four[]
After Small learns the treasure is kept by John Sholto's son, Bartholomew, Small and Tonga aim to non-violently retrieve the treasure. In the process of doing so, Tonga uses a blowpipe to fire a dart at Bartholomew, causing him to die. Bartholomew's body is not found for some time until discovered by his brother Thaddeus, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. Small rebuked Tonga for doing so, which Tonga did not understand.
Tonga and Small escape with the treasure and aim to get to a connecting boat headed for South America. They are followed by Holmes and Watson. In an attempt to intimidate them, Tonga bares his teeth and raises his blowpipe to his mouth, but is fatally shot by Dr. Watson. Tonga falls into the River Thames, and his body is never recovered.
