History
The first European discovery of the Fiji Islands was by the Dutch Navigator Abel Tasman in 1643, but the islands were recorded in detail by Capt. Bligh after the 1789 mutiny of the Bounty. In the 19th century the search for sandalwood, in which enormous profits were made, brought many ships.
The influence of the deserters, shipwrecked sailors who settled on the islands disrupted the pattern of life of the indigenous Fijians and gave rise to inter-tribal wars until Fiji was ceded to Britain on 10th October 1874.

Culture
The visitor to Fiji with even the vaguest powers of perception cannot help but notice the pride of the indigenous people, which comes across in their carriage, their way of looking you squarely in the eye, and their respect for tradition, manifest in their hospitality.
While many other South Pacific cultures are dying or long dead, Fiji's way of life remains strong and resilient in the face of outside influence. Traditional Fijian society is based on communal principles derived from village life. People in villages share the obligations and rewards of community life and are still led by a hereditary chief.
Traditional Fijian society is based on communal principles derived from village life. People in villages share the obligations and rewards of community life and are still led by a hereditary chief.

Ideally it is an all-encompassing security net that works very effectively not only as a caretaking system, but also by giving each person a sense of belonging and identity.