The self-declared republic of Fiji, an independent member of the British Commonwealth, consists of about 320 islands located in the southwestern Pacific 1,100 miles (1,770 km.) north of New Zealand. The islands have a combined area of 7,056 sq. mi. (18,274 sq. km.) and a population of 848,000. Capital: Suva, on the island of Viti Levu. Fiji?s economy is based on agriculture and mining. Sugar, coconut products, manganese and gold are exported. ,The Fiji Islands were discovered by Dutch navigator Abel Tasmen in 1643 and visited by British naval captain James Cook in 1774. The first complete survey of the island was conducted by the United States in 1840. Settlement by missionaries from Tonga and traders attracted by the sandalwood trade began in 1835. Following a lengthy period of intertribal warfare, the islands were unconditionally and voluntarily ceded to Great Britain in 1874 by King Cakobau. The trading center was Levuka on the island of Ovalau which was also the capital under the British from 1874-82. Fiji became an independent nation on Oct. 10, 1970, the 96th anniversary of the cession of the islands to Queen Victoria. It is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations.,, Rulers:,,, ,Thakombau (Cakobau), until 1874,, ,British, 1874-,, Monetary System:,,, ,1 Shillings = 12 Pence,, ,1 Pound = 20 Shillings to 1969,, ,1 Dollar = 100 Cents, 1969-,,