History

According to Fijian legend is the great chief Lutunasobasoba led his people across the seas to the new land of Fiji. Most authorities agree that people came into the Pacific from Southeast Asia via Indonesia. Here the Melanesians and the Polynesians mixed to create a highlydeveloped society long before the arrival of the Europeans.

First European discoveries of the Fiji Islands were quite accidental. The Dutch navigator Abel Tasman first sited some of the Fiji Islands in 1642 and 1643. English explorer, Captain James Cook also recorded visiting the islands in 1774.

It was Captain William Bligh who sailed through Fiji after the mutunity on the Bounty in 1789. During this period the first Europeans where said have landed and live among Fijians. These people were mainly shipwrecked sailors and runaway convicts from Australian penal settlements. By the mid 19 th century sandalwood traders and the first missionaries arrived in Fiji.

Ratu George Cakabau a prominent Fijian chief accepted Christianity and 1854 and this put in end to widely practiced cannibalism and tribal warfare. In 1874 the 'Deed of Cession' was signed by 13 high chiefs and Queen Victoria of Great Britain. The 'Deed of Cession' meant that the Fiji islands were ceded to Great Britain.

From 1899 to 1916 Indian indentured laborers were brought to Fiji to work on the sugar plantations. After the indentured system was abolished, many stayed on as independent farmers and businessmen. Today the Indian community comprises of 44 percent of the population.
1) Pick up and drop off from hotel, experienced surf guide/lifeguard and

Culture

Anthropologists believe that Fiji was first settled about three and a half thousand years ago. The original inhabitants are now called "Lapita people" after a distinctive type of fine pottery they produced, remnants of which have been found in practically all the islands of the Pacific east of New Guinea, though not in eastern Polynesia. Linguistic evidence suggests that they came from northern or central Vanuatu, or possibly the eastern Solomon's

Unlike the islands of Polynesia which showed a continuous steadily evolving culture from initial occupation, Fiji appears to have undergone at least two periods of rapid culture change in prehistorical times. This may have been due to the arrival of fresh waves of immigrants, presumably from the west. Prehistorians have noted that a massive 12th century volcanic eruption in southern Vanuatu coincides with the disappearance there of a certain pottery style, and its sudden emergence in Fiji.

Fijian traditional cultural values are still practiced widely throughout the islands. In particular in rural in village communities where Fijians still live within a strict hierarchical system within the village chiefs receiving the respect of all. Fijian chiefs are hereditary titles, mostly through the male lineage, and the ranking of chiefs throughout the country is ordered into a strict hierarchical system of mataqalis, vanuas and yavusas (clans and sub clans). This intense social makeup has caused a number of bitter disputes in the past and is an underlying issue in modern day politics. If you're not a chief you're referred to as a commoner and your powers are limited.

Yaqona is the traditional drink of Fiji and serves as a ceremonial and social mediator between parties. Yaqona ceremonies are performed at all social and cultural events. A large hand carved wooden bowl called a tanoa is usually used for mixing the drink. Yagona is a root of a pepper plant is pounded until to a fine form and then mixed with water. The taste is quite unusual to the palette and leaves a slight numbing effect on the tongue. You will always be welcome to yagona or kava ceremony's as they are called however be warned can be quite lengthy however it is not considered impolite to leave in between a ceremony.