JIM THE DARK HEAVY HARDWOOD USED IS REFERED TO AS IRONWOOD, WHICH LEAVES A LOT OF POSSIBILITYS WORLDWIDE BUT I IMAGINE IS QUITE LIMITED IN TYPE ON ISLANDS. UNFORTUNATELY I DON'T KNOW THE SPECIES OR IF THERE IS MORE THAN ONE TYPE AVAILABLE. MANY OF THE MORE RECENT CARVINGS ARE DONE IN A LIGHT SOFT WOOD AND THEN COLORED WITH BLACK SHOEPOLISH OR SOMETHING WHICH SETS OFF THE MOP. INLAYS BETTER AND IS EASY TO CARVE. SO FAR ALL THE CLUBS I HAVE SEEN ARE STILL CARVED FROM HEAVY WOOD BUT A LOT OF THE CEREMONIAL BOWLS ECT. ARE NOW DONE IN LIGHT WOODS. THE SHAPE OF THE MOP IN THE SECOND CANE IS A STANDARD ONE USED IN THE SOLOMONS ON MASKS, BOWLS, ECT.
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