Fiji

FIJI. – An archipelago of 250 islands (80 inhabited) in the South Pacific; Viti Levu and Vanua Levu are of volcanic origin, the others coral.

The tropical, humid climate favors the many crops introduced there (sugar cane, maize, tea, tobacco, peanuts, cotton, coconuts and copra); livestock breeding is also noteworthy. Discovered by Tasman in 1643, the F. Islands (or Viti) voluntarily placed themselves under Great Britain, of which they form a colony enjoying some autonomy. The archipelago covers approximately 18,344 sq. km and has 270,000 inhabitants, of whom 120,000 are Indians. The capital is Suva (11 million inhabitants), on Viti Levu.

THE APOSTOLIC VICARIATE OF THE F. ISLANDS. — In 1835, through a certain Giorgio Tubou, a native of the island of Tonga, Methodism was introduced into the F. Islands, even by force of arms. Only on 2 August 1844 did two missionaries of the Society of Mary land there; for 15 years they obtained almost no conversions and had to endure much suffering at the hands of the Protestants. The F. Islands formed part of the Apostolic Vicariate of Central Oceania, from which they were separated and erected into an apostolic prefecture on 27 March 1863. A consoling movement of conversions had begun in 1860, but the catechumens fell victim to a bloody persecution by the Methodists. On 13 May 1887 they were elevated to an apostolic vicariate. It comprises approximately 200 islands, called F. and Rotuma. They extend between the parallels 12.30 and 22 and between the 175th eastern meridian and the 177th western meridian. The entire surface area is approximately 18,344 sq. km., with a humid tropical climate owing to the abundance of rainfall. The terrain is volcanic and mountainous, so that means of communication present great difficulties. In the past, contagious diseases greatly reduced the population. It is believed that the inhabitants came from central Africa by way of the Malaya Islands and New Guinea. They were cannibals and pagans; now, under English rule, they are very peaceful.

According to the statistics for 1948, there are 22,103 Catholics, 411 catechumens, 39 foreign priests, 4 indigenous priests, 25 foreign brothers, 20 indigenous brothers; 123 foreign nuns, 92 indigenous nuns, 221 catechists, 50 schools with 6,000 pupils, and 3 orphanages with 148 children.

The Protestants are represented by Anglicans, Presbyterians, Adventists, and Methodists, and all other non-Catholics are counted as such, although there are still some who remain pagans.