ROTUMAH (Rotuma, Rotuam or

See also:

• GRENVILLE (or GRANVILLE), SIR RICHARD (r600-1658)
• GRENVILLE (or GREYNVILE), SIR RICHARD (c. 1541-1591)
• GRENVILLE, GEORGE (1712-1770)
• GRENVILLE, SIR BEVIL (1596-1643)
• GRENVILLE, WILLIAM WYNDHAM GRENVILLE, BARON (1759-1834)

Grenville)  , an island of the South Pacific Ocean, in 12° 30' S., 177° E., about 300 M . N. by W. of Fiji, of which British colony it is a dependency . Its area is 14 sq. m., and its extreme elevation 800 ft . It is surrounded by coral reefs, and is richly wooded . Several islets lie round it . The population is about 2200, the natives being Polynesian, though their language has been classified as Melanesian . They are Wesleyans or Roman Catholics . The chief product is copra . A European commissioner resides . Local laws, subject to approval by the legislative council of Fiji, are promulgated by a regulation board, composed of the commissioner, native chiefs of the seven districts into which the island is divided, and two native magistrates . Rotumah was discovered by Captain Edwards of the " Pandora " in 1791, and was annexed by Great Britain in 1881 .