The Fiji Museum - Virtual Museum

James Cook

The second European navigator to venture into Fiji water was Captain James Cook in 1774. Cook seemed reluctant to risk the Resolution and Adventure here, perhaps after hearing about Fiji's notorious reputation from the Tongans. Voyaging from Tonga to the New Hebrides (Vanuatu) he sighted Vatoa (Turtle Island). Fijians seen on the shore fled when a boat from a ship landed, Cook sailed off to the south-east and saw no further Fijian islands.

A lasting legacy of Cook has been the name of Feegee or Fiji, based upon the Tongan pronunciation of Fiji, 'Viti'.

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