18th June 2016, 02:55 AM | #1 |
(deceased)
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: OKLAHOMA, USA
Posts: 3,138
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MAORI LONG WEAPONS
THERE ARE SEVERAL TYPES OF MAORI LONG WEAPONS THEY ARE MADE MOSTLY FROM WOOD BUT SOME ARE MADE OF WHALE BONE. I WILL START WITH THE MOST COMMON FORM THE TAIAHA OR TAHIATIA . IT IS A LONG STAFF WITH A POINT AT ONE END AND A WIDE FLAT STRIKING END. THRUSTS AND STRIKES ARE MADE WITH THE WIDE FLAT END WHICH IS THE PART OF THE CLUB USED THE MOST IN FIGHTING. THE SMALLER END NEAR THE GRIP IS OFTEN CARVED WITH A HEAD WITH A TONGUE STICKING OUT WHICH FORMS THE POINT. THIS CAN BE USED FOR THRUSTING BUT DOES NOT FORM A SHARP SPEAR POINT. OFTEN FEATHERS OR DOG HAIR IS ATTACHED JUST ABOVE THIS CARVED FACE, THIS IS SAID TO HAVE BEEN USED TO TAUNT THE ENEMY AS WELL AS TO SHOW STATUS AND BE A DECORATION.
#1. & #2. 1885 PICTURE OF A MAORI CHIEF WHO LEAD A RESCUE PARTY AND HIS WIFE #3. 1913 PRINT #4. 1932 CARD DEPICTING A MAORI CHIEF #5. ,#6. #7. MAORI CHIEFS WITH TAHIATIA #8. TAHIATIA 1.46 METERS LONG 18TH TO EARLY 19TH CENTURY WITH CARVED DECORATIONS ON BLADE. #9. THRU #12. SHOWS DETAIL OF HEAD AT GRIP AND STRIKING AND THRUSTING PART OF BLADE. Last edited by VANDOO; 18th June 2016 at 10:47 PM. |
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