ABOUT FIJI:

Fiji is the gateway to Melanesia and a buffer zone historically and ethnically, between Melanesian and Polynesian people, the original settlers of the islands. It was discovered by Dutch explorer Abel Tasman in 1643 and once had the fearsome title of 'Cannibal Isles' bestowed on it by early voyagers.

Today Fiji's gleaming white beaches and azure lagoons make its 322 islands some of the most popular South Pacific holiday destinations.

Fiji's two largest islands are extinct volcanoes - Viti Levu where the capital Suva is based, and Vanua Levu. High mountainous blocks, deep valleys, lush rainforests and thousands of streams and rivers typify the diverse landforms on some of the bigger islands. Many of the smaller islands however are only atolls that barely rise above sea level.

Fiji is inhabited by a rich blend of cultures that include Indians, Chinese, Europeans, Polynesians and Micronesians. The thriving Indian population is descended from indentured labourers brought to Fiji from India after Fiji was ceded to Britain as a colony in 1874.

Their numbers grew so dramatically from then on that by World War II, indigenous Fijians were outnumbered by Indian Fijians. In the last decade however, the population ratio has shifted. In the 1996 census, indigenous Fijians made up 50.8% of the population while Indo-Fijians made up 43.7%.

This shift came partly as a result of the mass Indo-Fijian exodus that occurred after racially motivated political conflict in the late 1980s. Two political coups in 1987 and a third in 2000 by indigenous Fijians highlighted the ongoing racial tension in Fiji. The latter coup was instigated after the last democratic election in Fiji in which an Indian dominated party was elected into power. The current prime minister is Ratu Tevita Moemoedonu.

Despite Fiji's political woes, thousands of travellers still flock to Fiji to take advantage of relatively cheap travel packages. Most tourists are forewarned of any potential unrest in the country by their travel agents.

Fiji offers a variety of scenic and historic attractions. Fiji's fertile grounds made it ideal for early settlers to plant sugar cane, coffee and cocoa. These plantations are open to tourists. There are also forest walks, and a particularly popular river trek along the Sigatoka River in Viti Levu.

Suva has a bustling nightlife and sedate daytime excursions. The National Museum has an interesting collection or for a sample of culture, travel to the outskirts of Suva to the Cultural Centre at Orchid Island. An intriguing traditional ceremony is the Fijian fire walking ceremony performed mainly at resort hotels on Viti Levu. And a good deal of tourists will not leave Fiji without having tasted the bitter, tranquilising properties of the ceremonial drink kava.

Fiji also has an excellent range of souvenirs including tapa cloth, a light piece of material made from the bark of the mulberry tree and decorated with designs.