The History of the Fiji Islands

Out there in the middle of the Pacific ocean lies the 333 Fijian Islands. These gorgeous and varied islands take up about 518,000 square kilometers of the Pacific. Regarded by many as the foremost vacation destination in the Pacific ocean. The islands boast warm sunshine, stunning beaches and a people whom are friendly, welcoming and hospitable.

Approximately three hundred years ago settlers arrived in the Fiji Islands from the Melanesia and Micronesia islands to the north of Fiji.

The Europeans first arrived in Fiji when Abel Tasman, the Dutch explorer who also discovered New Zealand, sighted the islands way back in 1643.

It was more than 130 years later that Europeans landed on the Islands. Captain James Cook, also the first European to land in New Zealand, landed on the Fiji islands in 1755.

Later in 1789, Captain William Bligh is said to have sailed through the Fiji Islands. Probably picking up supplies as this was after the infamous mutiny on the Bounty.

The islands of Fiji have been under British rule since 1874. The largest industry in the islands at the time was sugar cane, the British imported cheap labour from India to work on these plantations.

It wasn't until 1970 that Fiji gained it's in dependance from Britain and was declared a republic.