LAU GROUP

also called Eastern Group, island cluster of Fiji in the South Pacific Ocean, east of the Koro Sea. Mainly composed of limestone, the 57 islands and islets cover a land area of 188 square miles (487 square km) and are scattered over 44,000 square miles (114,000 square km) of the South Pacific. The chief island is Vanua Balavu, site of Lomaloma, now a copra port. The second most important island is Lakeba, site of the first Wesleyan missionary venture in Fiji (1835). The town of Tubou is on Lakeba. The Lau Group's islanders exhibit a greater admixture of Polynesian and Melanesian characteristics than is found in Fiji's more westerly groups. Pop. (1986) 14,203.