A republic consisting of an island group in melanesia, in the southwest pacific ocean. Its capital is port-vila. It was called new hebrides until 1980. It was discovered in 1606 by the portuguese, forgotten for 160 years, then visited by bougainville in 1768 and captain cook in 1774. It was under joint british and french administration from 1906 until it became independent in 1980 under the name of vanuatu. The name is native, meaning our land.