Mystery Wooden Club!

Ian · 2nd February 2026, 03:58 AM

Ausjulius,

Thank you for your confident post about the original club being African in origin.

Yes, the club I posted is without doubt Fijian. As noted already, it is an ula, or more precisely an I Ula Drisia, a common type where the root ball is globular. I am aware that the ula has been documented by Churchill [1] to be 15-17 in. in length, and the original post indicates a length of about 21.5 in. for that item. Thus, I agree with you that the OP is unlikely to be an ula. Nevertheless, there are common features suggesting parallel development with respect to the root clubs of Africa and Polynesia.

Ausjulius, you have made a very definite statement about the source of the OP being African. I would be greatly informed by your justification for that opinion. Am I correct in assuming that you base this on the carvings? If so, can you post examples of similar carvings on other African clubs so that we have that information for future reference in the archives.

Regards,

Ian.

Reference

1. Churchill W. Club Types of Nuclear Polynesia. Carnegie Institution of Washington, DC. 1915.

2nd February 2026, 03:58 AM	#9
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,653	Ausjulius, Thank you for your confident post about the original club being African in origin. Yes, the club I posted is without doubt Fijian. As noted already, it is an ula, or more precisely an I Ula Drisia, a common type where the root ball is globular. I am aware that the ula has been documented by Churchill [1] to be 15-17 in. in length, and the original post indicates a length of about 21.5 in. for that item. Thus, I agree with you that the OP is unlikely to be an ula. Nevertheless, there are common features suggesting parallel development with respect to the root clubs of Africa and Polynesia. Ausjulius, you have made a very definite statement about the source of the OP being African. I would be greatly informed by your justification for that opinion. Am I correct in assuming that you base this on the carvings? If so, can you post examples of similar carvings on other African clubs so that we have that information for future reference in the archives. Regards, Ian. Reference 1. Churchill W. Club Types of Nuclear Polynesia. Carnegie Institution of Washington, DC. 1915.