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'' | '' [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Fiji Genealogy|Fiji]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Fiji timeline|Fiji timeline]]'' [[Image:Fiji.png|thumb|right|400px]]<br> | ||
==== Background Information | {{breadcrumb | ||
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=== Research Help === | |||
*[[Pacific Island Guide to Family History Research|Pacific Island Guide to Family History Research]] | |||
=== Background Information === | |||
Located in the southwestern Pacific, north of New Zealand, [[Fiji Genealogy|Fiji]] is made up of over 300 islands, but only 110 are inhabited. The larger islands are volcanic, although none of the volcanoes are now active. They are mountainous, humid, and tropical, and are surrounded by coral reefs. The largest islands are''Viti Levu, Vanua Levu'', and ''Taveuni'', where most of the population is concentrated. Population in 2000 was 832,494.''Fijian, English'', and ''Hindustani'' are the main languages. Freedom of religion is guaranteed by the constitution. In 2008 there were 14,866 LDS Church members. [[Image:{{FijiHuts}}]] | Located in the southwestern Pacific, north of New Zealand, [[Fiji Genealogy|Fiji]] is made up of over 300 islands, but only 110 are inhabited. The larger islands are volcanic, although none of the volcanoes are now active. They are mountainous, humid, and tropical, and are surrounded by coral reefs. The largest islands are''Viti Levu, Vanua Levu'', and ''Taveuni'', where most of the population is concentrated. Population in 2000 was 832,494.''Fijian, English'', and ''Hindustani'' are the main languages. Freedom of religion is guaranteed by the constitution. In 2008 there were 14,866 LDS Church members. [[Image:{{FijiHuts}}]] | ||
=== Historical background === | |||
B.C. Inhabited by Lapita people from Asia.<br>B.C. Inhabited by Polynesians and Melanesians.<br>1643 Visited by Abel Janzsoon Tazman, who was Dutch.<br>1774 Visited by Captain James Cook of England.<br>1792 William Bligh explored the islands.<br>1800 Traders visited to get sandalwood.<br>1820 European traders hired Fijians to harvest sea cucumbers. <br>1854 Chief Ratu Cakobau, a Fijiian, became a Christian through the efforts of Methodist Missionaries. <br>1860 Civil War in the USA made cotton valuable, and Europeans emigrated to Fiji.<br>1865 Ratu Cakobau united rival tribes and ended cannibalism. <br>1867 A rival chief of Tongan descent, named Ma`afu, became governor.<br>1871 Ratu Cakobau became King of Fiji.<br>1874 Fiji became a colony of the British. <br>1875 Sir Albert Gordon, the first British Governor-general of Fiji, established the policy of government through the chiefs, | B.C. Inhabited by Lapita people from Asia.<br>B.C. Inhabited by Polynesians and Melanesians.<br>1643 Visited by Abel Janzsoon Tazman, who was Dutch.<br>1774 Visited by Captain James Cook of England.<br>1792 William Bligh explored the islands.<br>1800 Traders visited to get sandalwood.<br>1820 European traders hired Fijians to harvest sea cucumbers. <br>1854 Chief Ratu Cakobau, a Fijiian, became a Christian through the efforts of Methodist Missionaries. <br>1860 Civil War in the USA made cotton valuable, and Europeans emigrated to Fiji.<br>1865 Ratu Cakobau united rival tribes and ended cannibalism. <br>1867 A rival chief of Tongan descent, named Ma`afu, became governor.<br>1871 Ratu Cakobau became King of Fiji.<br>1874 Fiji became a colony of the British. <br>1875 Sir Albert Gordon, the first British Governor-general of Fiji, established the policy of government through the chiefs, | ||
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Traditional Fijian society was hierarchical, with tribal groups led by chiefs chosen according to rank based on descent as well as personal achievement. For this reason, some oral genealogies were memorized, going back as far as 11 generations. Tribes were divided into Mataqali, or clans, and sub clans according to where they lived. By alliance or conquest, tribes might form confederations led by paramount chiefs. Land and government still are influenced by remnants of this system. | Traditional Fijian society was hierarchical, with tribal groups led by chiefs chosen according to rank based on descent as well as personal achievement. For this reason, some oral genealogies were memorized, going back as far as 11 generations. Tribes were divided into Mataqali, or clans, and sub clans according to where they lived. By alliance or conquest, tribes might form confederations led by paramount chiefs. Land and government still are influenced by remnants of this system. | ||
=== Case Study === | |||
'''Raveendra:'''<br>We are Raveendra Rama and my wife, Ulamila Lewenikeli Kalou. I was born in ''Rakiraki,'' on the island of''Ra ''in Fiji, and Ulamila was born in ''Navuso'', on the island of ''Naitasiri,'' Fiji. We were married in Suva on the island of ''Viti Levu ''and we have two children. We now live in Hawaii. | '''Raveendra:'''<br>We are Raveendra Rama and my wife, Ulamila Lewenikeli Kalou. I was born in ''Rakiraki,'' on the island of''Ra ''in Fiji, and Ulamila was born in ''Navuso'', on the island of ''Naitasiri,'' Fiji. We were married in Suva on the island of ''Viti Levu ''and we have two children. We now live in Hawaii. | ||
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As for me, I had to make some estimations on even my grandmother's birth year according to stories she told, and by comparing the dates with an older man's recorded birth year in his family bible. One of the ways in which to check for birth dates is in the family bible. If a designated keeper of the old family bible is careful with it, one can always find all the names of the children and their parents in order from oldest to youngest. | As for me, I had to make some estimations on even my grandmother's birth year according to stories she told, and by comparing the dates with an older man's recorded birth year in his family bible. One of the ways in which to check for birth dates is in the family bible. If a designated keeper of the old family bible is careful with it, one can always find all the names of the children and their parents in order from oldest to youngest. | ||
=== Resources Available === | |||
Click on this link to '''[[Fiji Genealogy|Fiji]]''' in the Familysearch Wiki. There is a lot of information there. | Click on this link to '''[[Fiji Genealogy|Fiji]]''' in the Familysearch Wiki. There is a lot of information there. | ||
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