1840 Earthquake: Kadavu, Fiji

1840-1850 (Kadavu) .The date is unknown. The earthquake focus must have been close to Kadavu and hence the shaking very severe to impress the inhabitants during the mid-1880s.

“In Kantavu the inhabitants seem to be more superstitious, or rather greater zealots, than their neighbours, and I attributed the cause to a recent earthquake that had been felt throughout the greater part of Feejee, but was so tremendous in Kantavu that the earth opened in several parts and destroyed a great number of people. In one part it shook down a large cave and buried thirty or forty women who had taken shelter for the night, having been on a fishing excursion. In another part of Buke-levu it shook down a part of the head bluff and did great damage. They say that “A Dagen (the name of the great serpent and most powerful and wicked God) is the foundation of the Feejees, and supports them: and that he slews or turns himself over every sleep he takes, which is from three to seven years long (seven years being his day and seven years his night, corresponding to his size).. As all the Feejees necessarily shake a.t those times they sacrifice to him things of great value to induce him to be careful of their welfare when he is restless, and to turn himself as easily as possible, so that they will not be destroyed.” [Extract from Page 473 Jackson's ”Narrative" , published as Appendix "A" in the Journal of a Cruise Among the Islands of the Western Pacific, by John Elphinstone Erskine, Capt. R.N. of M.H.S. Havannah; London 1853.]

(all above from reference #1184)

Note: deaths likely larger than 40 based on description