Naciriyawa.....the meaning of the name

What does NACIRIYAWA mean.......?

The origins of the first people of Fiji cannot be pinpointed exactly  as there are no written records and oral legends and memories the only source of their history ...
According to these storytellers the epic journeys of Fiji's ancestors began around 1500 BC with a voyage of giant war canoes from Thebes and traveled up the Nile to Tanganyika ("fish bag" in Fijian), eventually migrating from Africa to Fiji.
Interestingly, one of the largest coastal river systems in Tanganyika (now Tanzania) is the Rufiji .

http://www.fijibure.com/

The purpose of the expedition was to find a mythological island in the South East with bountiful seas and rich land created by the Gods where the Chief’s people could rest after years of wandering. Navigation was by the stars. The armada carried rations, families, warriors and skilled craftsmen including Lapita potters.

Two convoys set sail, but one got separated and disappeared in the Indian Ocean. The other continued South East past Indonesia, Papua New Guinea into the Marquesas, north of Tahiti, then curled back south west into the Fiji group of islands. Legend has it that the armada traveled via the Yasawas and as the reefs were treacherous around Viti Levu, they had to keep traveling South West to find a passage to enter Fiji Waters. This was Momi passage, which is still used today by large ocean-going vessels.

Leading the armada on a giant double hull canoe called "Kaunitoni" was the warrior Chief Lutunasobasoba  assisted by his General Degei.

http://www.fijiguide.com/

Legend has it that the armada was carrying some special cargo - treasures from the Temple of King Solomon in Judah which included a special box called the Katonimana ("Kato" meaning case and "Mana" being magic), which in Fijian literally means "Box of Blessings".
Due to rough weather, the "Katonimana" - the “Box of Blessings” slipped off the outrigger canoe in the waters surrounding Mana Island in the Mamanuca Group near the west coast of Viti Levu Island, Fiji.  Lutunasobasoba gave orders to let it go, believing it was the will of the gods. ( It has never been found...)

After damaging the hull on a coral reef, the convoy finally landed at Vuda Point, a beach on the big Island Viti Levu. They explored the surrounding land and the chief ordered two of his daughters to build a house and they called the house that they built

 "Naciriyawa", which means - far drifted.....

http://www.fijiguide.com/

When we heard this fable, we immediately loved the name and decided to call our farm


                                                         Naciriyawa,    

 as we also drifted far.....

                                           from Africa...


                                                                     on our catamaran Prrrfection....

read about our voyage here - www.sailblogs.com/member/prrrfection

                             and the  shape of our land has the outline of the African continent......

Naciriyawa...far drifted......

Could they possibly have landed here...?    this is the only protected estuary on the west coast where they were suppose to have landed  ......................it makes sense to choose a protected estuary to make landfall.....            
                          Did they maybe build their  first house on this land before moving further inland? ............





http://www.fijiguide.com/ - lovely site with more photos
http://www.fijime.com/ - Fiji tourism site