The uncivilized races of men in all countries of the world; vol. 2 of 2: Being a comprehensive account of their manners and customs, and of their physical, social, mental, moral and religious characteristicsWood, J. G. (John George)
History
The uncivilized races of men in all countries of the world; vol. 2 of 2: Being a comprehensive account of their manners and customs, and of their physical, social, mental, moral and religious characteristics
Wood, J. G. (John George)
Anthropology; Ethnology; Manners and customs
Fig. 3 is a club, which may be considered as a sort of intermediate
form between the two already mentioned. Like the last, it has a
broad blade, but is evidently a club and not a paddle. The blade is
strengthened by a bold ridge running along the centre. In order to
show the mode in which it is flattened, a side view of the lower
part is shown at fig. _a_, and a cross section of the blade is given
at fig. _b_. This kind of club is modified in various ways, but is
always made on the same principle, _i. e._ a round handle and a
flattened paddle-like end, sometimes nearly plain, as in the above
mentioned specimens, and sometimes furnished with knobs, teeth, and
spikes projecting from the sides. In some cases it assumes the shape
of a crescent, and looks, indeed, much like a cheese knife very much
magnified.
Another very characteristic shape is given in fig. 4. As may be
imagined from the illustration, it is very weighty, so that even
to carry it about must be rather troublesome. It is covered with
carvings in the most lavish manner, and such value has been set by the
manufacturer upon the weapon, that he has even taken the trouble to
invent different patterns for the opposite sides.
The peculiar form of this club is evidently due to the structure of
the branch from which it was cut, the projecting portion being the
base of another branch. Although in many specimens--my own among the
number--the club has been carved from a great log of solid wood, the
form has evidently been borrowed from the junction of two branches. The
edge of the club is cut into slight teeth, and just within the edge are
a number of round holes, set in a line. A tolerably bold ridge runs
along the head of the club and follows its curve, and through this
ridge are also bored a number of holes, apparently for the purpose of
attaching bunches of feathers, or other ornaments, to the weapon.
The most characteristic club of Fiji is, however, that of which an
example is given in fig. 5. It is made from the stem and part of the
root of a young tree. In this part of the world there are certain trees
which grow in a manner which to us seems very peculiar. As is the case
with many trees, it sends a tap-root deeply into the earth, and is
further supported by a number of smaller roots which diverge from it
on all sides, and retain it in its upright position, just as a mast is
upheld by the standing rigging.
While the tree is very young, it is drawn down nearly horizontally, and
fixed in that position, so as to be bent nearly at right angles close
to the earth. When it has grown to the thickness of a man’s wrist, the
top is cut off and the roots dug out of the ground. The tap-root is
then scraped down to a point, and all the smaller roots are cut off to
within an inch and a half of the tap-root, so as to form a radiating
mass of spikes, which are sharpened, and thus present the appearance
shown in the illustration.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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