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image, cannibalism etc, missionaries, politics
'''Fiji''', officially the Fijian Republic, is an island group 5500 miles south west of the continental United States (3100 miles from Hawaii). It is located north of [[New Zealand]] and west of [[Tonga]]. The largest islands are [[Viti Levu]] with the capital [[Suva]] on the east coast and international airport at [[Nadi]] on the west coast, and [[Vanua Levu]].
[[Image:Fijian christians.jpg|right|frame|Fijian men wearing the modern version of the traditional island garment, the sulu.]]
'''Fiji''', officially the Fijian Republic, is an island group 5500 miles south west of the continental United States (3100 miles from Hawaii). It is located north of [[New Zealand]] and west of [[Tonga]]. The largest islands are [[Viti Levu]] with the capital [[Suva]] on the east coast and international airport at [[Nadi]] on the west coast, and [[Vanua Levu]]. Outlying islands include Taveuni and Kadavu, both world-famous [[SCUBA]]-diving destinations.
== History ==
About four thousand years ago, [[Lapita]] people, ancestors of current Fijian aborigines settled in Fiji. These aborigines are genetically related to Malay and Polynesians, and linguists classify their language as Austronesian.
About four thousand years ago, [[Lapita]] people, ancestors of current Fijian aborigines settled in Fiji. These aborigines are genetically related to Malay and Polynesians, and linguists classify their language as Austronesian.
Fiji gained independence from [[Britain]] in 1970. Almost two-fifths of the population is of [[India]]n descent, who's ancestors were brought to Fiji to work on sugar plantations in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The comflict between the indigenous Fijian and Indo-Fijian populations has led to a number of political coups since independence.
Fiji is the source of many of the tales of South Pacific [[cannibalism]], the consumption of enemy tribesmen captured in the internecine warfare being a major social activity, and other victims being used as foundations of buildings and living rollers to launch war canoes. The arrival of (initially Catholic) missionaries and conversion of the islanders to Christianity brought an end to cannibalism in the islands. However today, a second wave of missionaries (predominantly of recently formed American sects) is reigniting strife in the rural villages of Fiji, some of which may contain half a dozen different churches.
Fiji gained independence from [[Britain]] in 1970. Almost two-fifths of the population is of [[India]]n descent, whose ancestors were brought to Fiji to work on sugar plantations in the late 19th and early 20th centuries; these live almost entirely on the two main islands of the group. Conflict of interests, ostensibly between the indigenous Fijian and Indo-Fijian populations, but actually between rural and reactionary, and urban and progressive factions, has led to a number of non-violent, but highly disruptive political coups since independence.
[[Category:Oceanian Countries]]
[[Category:Oceanian Countries]]
[[Category:Islands]]
[[Category:Islands]]