Research has revealed that while the Leonidas arrived in Fiji on May 14, 1879, the first indentured labourers did not set foot in the country until May 26 because of disease outbreak on the vessel.
“There is an understanding that the indentured labourers landed here on May 14, 1879. Now that is something that we have believed in but historically that is not correct,” said renowned local academic and Global Girmit Institute conference convener Dr Ganesh Chand.
“So research shows, the ship came on the evening of 14th May into our waters near Levuka but the people landed on 26th May.
“So the actual setting of foot of the girmitya on Fiji land is 26th May.
“So these are the kinds of things that research brings out.”
When the ship landed, the acting governor at that time (William Des Voeux) was very worried because there were some people who had diseases on the ship and he wanted to turn back the ship to open waters and maybe back to India.
“Good sense prevailed and he said instead of turning it back, they would create a quarantine and put them there. So that was Yanucalailai Island.”
Dr Chand said the people of Moturiki and Ovalau built bure to accommodate the Indian labourers.
“When that was completed, they began transporting people from the ship to land.
“That started on 26th of May and went on for three days.
“So conferences are important so we correct things.”
