DID you know that it would be 374 years this year since the European explorer Abel Tasman discovered the Fiji Islands?
This was the question posed to me a few weeks back by a Dutchman, Bart van Aller.
Mr van Aller, who is a building historian, was recently in the country to asses our old buildings in Levuka Town before it was declared World Heritage site. During a conversation about his work, he broached the subject about his fellow Dutchman.
I admit I was a bit astounded at the question. The last time I had heard the name ‘”Abel Tasman” was back in primary school when teachers used to quiz us in social science classes.
For those that don’t know, Abel Janszoon Tasman (1603-1659) was a Dutch seafarer, explorer, and merchant. He was best known for his voyages of 1642 and 1644 in the service of the Dutch East India Company (VOC).
In 1642 he was appointed to command two ships to explore the southern and eastern waters. He was the first known European explorer to reach the islands of Van Diemen’s Land (now Tasmania), New Zealand and the Fiji Group.
He further re-explored part of the north coast of New Guinea.
Tasman and William Bligh (an oficer of the British Royal Navy and a colonial administrator) shared the honour of first place among the discoverers of Fiji. Tasman was first by 146 years where he sighted about a dozen islands He did not land but nearly lost his ships.
For an explorer who sailed halfway across the world crossing our oceans and mapping islands on the way without the technology instruments we have now, it was quite a feat.
He was traveling from Tonga to Papua New Guinea when he sighted Nukubasaga, a sand cay west of Vanua Levu, on February 6, 1643.
From there, sailing north-westward, the expedition located the Fiji Islands but could not land because of wind conditions and a hazardous reef.
And in the heavy rain and cloudy weather, the explorer slowly drew parts of the islands he saw in the map. It was the first such records that would put Fiji on the world map!
“If you look at historical records, they say Abel ‘had sighted’ Fiji …they hardly say ‘discovered’… For me Abel Tasman is the most underrated explorer out there,” mused Mr van Aller.
The European explorer was honoured in 1992, when a $10 coin was launched to commemorate the explorer. Since then nothing has been done to remember part of this heritage.
A random survey carried out on the streets of Suva to ask who Able Tasman was revealed interesting answers. Many shrugged with “I don’t know” to asking whether he was some famous engineer. Others just scratched their heads and asked if he was some sort of voyager.
Back at Tasman’s homeland, their national archives still have the original log book where Tasman recorded his sightings of the Fiji group.
Such historical artefacts are treasured.
Countries such as New Zealand annually commemorate the mapping of their islands by the seafarer and in 1942, a monument was erected to remember him.
Just last year, Dutch ambassador Rob Zaagman recently attended a commemoration for Abel Tasman at Golden Bay/Mohua in New Zealand. It was a momentous occasion as it was the first time since 1942 that that an official representative was present.
“These are the only permanent displays in New Zealand to this earliest recorded event and people come from around the world to visit them,” Penny Griffith, a chairwoman of the Golden Bay Museum board reportedly told media outlets. “We’re very proud of that and conscious of our national heritage responsibilities.”
That word ‘national heritage responsibilities’ got to me. Maybe it’s time that we as a nation take responsibility to preserve and commemorate our history not only of Tasman but of various historical buildings and figures which contributed towards our past, present and future.
