In June 1838 a large canoe provided byTaufa’ahau of Ha’apai, the future king of all Tonga, brought to Lakeba six more teachers to serve the Fiji mission:

In June 1838 a large canoe provided by Taufa’ahau of Ha’apai, the future king of all Tonga, brought to Lakeba six more teachers to serve the Fiji mission: Joeli Pulu (spelt Bulu in Fijian), Sailosi Fa’one, Siuliasi Naulivou, Uesile Langi, Selemaia Latu and Semisi Havea. Guided by Cargill, they acquired the dialect of Lau.
Long succession [...]

1801: Oliver Slater opens sandalwood in western Vanua Levu

 1801: Oliver Slater told of the sandalwood in western Vanua Levu in 1801, and for the next thirteen years traders shipped this product to Port Jackson in Australia.
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1814; Sandalwood days over, Irish beachcomber aims to father 50 children

“When the rush of sandalwood ships ceased, the beach-combers fell upon evil days. since there were no ships, they were cut off from their own people and forced to exist as best they could. However, the renewed shipping activity of the late ‘twenties, and the trade that accompanied it, brought prosperity both to the “old [...]

Mata-ki-Bau: David Whippy, an American from New Hampshire came to Fiji in 1822

“David Whippy, an American from New Hampshire, who, as a mere lad, came to Fiji in 1822 on a beche-de-mer ship commanded by his brother. Being badly treated, he ran away, and settled on the beach at Levuka. Here his industry and steadiness gained him the respect and good-will of whites and chefs alike.
Mata-ki-Bau (ambassador [...]

Island of Munia,1937: C. W. Whonsbon-Aston visits an old Harrovian with his wife and daughters on island of Munia

Levuka Days of a Parson in Polynesia By C. W. Whonsbon-Aston, London: Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, 1937. reported a sea-journey from Levuka to Munia to an British resident on Munia. “Later in the day I was borne over the waters of the huge lagoon within the reef to [...]

Beche-de-mer beach-side manufacturing process

In 1829 the Glide brought six Maoris from New Zealand to help in the beche-de-mer work. The beche-de-mer trader’s shore plant and equipment… were few, and of a kind easily put up by natives, with bush materials;
•  the “fish” were taken by …divers working from canoes, and without any special gear. When they were received [...]