Page 17 - Melanesia
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General Information The eBooks contain
links to the 3DAVI
From its lush tropical landscapes, towering Explore the Sea
mountains, diverse cultural mix, volcanoes, module of over 400
scuba diving, large lelagics and world re- web pages that
nowned surfing; Fiji is a true paradise. describes Coral,
Sponges and Sea
Critters.
T oday, the main sources called it Fisi, and it was by this a stronger connection to the
of foreign exchange are foreign pronunciation, Fiji, first older Polynesian cultures.
its tourist industry and sugar promulgated by Captain James
exports. The country’s currency Cook, that these islands are A cross 1,000 kilometres
is the Fijian dollar. Fijians first now known. Pottery art from (620 mi) from east to
impressed themselves on Eu- Fijian towns shows that Fiji west, Fiji has been a nation
ropean consciousness through was settled before or around of many languages. Fiji’s his-
the writings of the members 3500 to 1000 BC, although the tory was one of settlement
of the expeditions of Captain question of Pacific migration but also of mobility. Over
James Cook who met them in still lingers. The first settlements the centuries, a unique Fijian
Tonga. They were described as in Fiji were started by voyaging culture developed. Constant
formidable warriors and fero- traders and settlers from the warfare and cannibalism
cious cannibals, builders of the west about 5000 years ago. As- between warring tribes were
finest vessels in the Pacific, but pects of Fijian culture are similar quite rampant and very
not great sailors. They called to the Melanesian culture of much part of everyday life.
their home Viti, but the Tongans the western Pacific but have
