FIGLI
Archipelago of 250 islands (80 inhabited) in the South Pacific; Viti Levu and Vanua Levu of volcanic origin, the others of coral formation.
The tropical, humid climate favors the many crops introduced there (sugar cane, corn, tea, tobacco, peanuts, cotton, coconut and copra nuts); livestock farming is also significant. Discovered by Tasman in 1643, the F. Islands (at Viti) voluntarily submitted to British rule, of which they form a colony enjoying some autonomy. The archipelago covers 28,344 sq. km. and has a population of 270,000, of whom 120,000 are Indians. The capital is at Suva (11,000 inhabitants), on Viti Levu.
THE APOSTOLIC VICARIATE OF THE F. ISLANDS
In 1843, through a certain Giorgio Tubou, a native of the island of Tonga, Methodism was introduced into the F. Islands, even by force of arms. It was not until 2 August 1844 that two missionaries of the Society of Mary arrived, who for 15 years obtained almost no conversions and suffered greatly at the hands of the Protestants. The F. Islands were part of the Apostolic Vicariate of Central Oceania, from which they were separated and erected into an Apostolic Prefecture on 27 March 1863. From 1860 onwards, a promising movement of conversions had begun, but the catechumens fell victim to a bloody persecution by the Methodists. On 13 May 1887 they were raised to the status of an Apostolic Vicariate. It comprises about 200 islands, called F. and Rotuma. They lie between the parallels 12°30' and 22° and between the meridians 175° East and 177° West. The total area is about 18,344 sq. km., with a tropical, humid climate due to abundant rainfall. The terrain is volcanic and mountainous, making communication routes very difficult. In the past, contagious diseases greatly reduced the population. It is believed that the inhabitants came from Central Africa via the Malay and New Guinea islands. They were once anthropophagous pagans and are now very peaceful under British rule.
According to 1948 statistics, Catholics number 22,103, catechumens 411, foreign priests 39, indigenous priests 4, foreign brothers 25, indigenous brothers 20, foreign sisters 123, indigenous sisters 92, catechists 221, 50 schools with 6,000 pupils, and 3 orphanages with 148 children.
Protestants are represented by Anglicans, Presbyterians, Adventists, and Methodists, and all non-Catholics are considered such, although there are still some who remain pagans.