MOST DESIRED OCEANIC WAR CLUBS 3: FIJI

[VANDOO]

YES A MUSKET IN ONE PICTURE , CLUNNIE COVERS FIREARMS USED IN FIJI THAT ARE IN THE FIJI MUSEUM ON PAGE 44 ARE 2 PICTURES OF A SIMULAR MUSKET AND HE COVERS MUSKETS AND PISTOLS ON PLATE 40 AND 42 IN HIS BOOK. THIS MUSKET WAS IN A GROUP OF TOP QUALITY CLUBS OFFERED IN AN OLD AUCTION AND IS LIKELY FROM FIJI. I WISH I HAD BETTER PICTURES TO SEE IF IT HAD FIJI CARVING OR IVORY INLAY. WHEN CONTACT WAS MADE MUSKETS WERE NO DOUBT OFFERED TO CHIEFS IN TRADE OR TO ESTABLISH FRIENDLY RELATIONS WITH THE TRIBE. MUSKETS AND OTHER EUROPEAN GOODS NO DOUBT FELL INTO FIJIAN HANDS AND STOMACHS WHEN BATTLES WERE FOUGHT OR AMBUSHES LAID.

[VANDOO]

WHAT IS OFTEN REFERRED TO AS THE GUN STOCK CLUB IS THE MOST COMMON FORM OF FIJI CLUB FOUND BUT THERE IS VARIETY IN USE AND TYPE IN THIS CATEGORY WHICH IS OFTEN OVERLOOKED. THE TERM GUNSTOCK IS NOT A GOOD ONE AS THIS FORM HAD BEEN IN USE IN FIJI LONG BEFORE CONTACT WITH PEOPLE WITH GUNS. CLUNNIE RIGHTLY SUGGESTS GUN STOCK SHOULD BE DISCARDED AND PERHAPS REPLACED WITH SPURRED CLUBS.
KIAKAVO , KIAKAVA OR ULULALA THESE CLUBS WERE FOR CEREMONIAL USE AND DANCING. THEY WERE RARELY IF EVER USED FOR FIGHTING SO LACKED A CUTTING EDGE. THE UNDERSIDE OF THE HEAD IS ROUNDED IN KIAKAVO, NOT ANGLED AS IN AS WITH GATA AND SALI SPURED CLUBS. TRUE KIAKAVA WERE SMALL AND LIGHT FOR DANCING AND WERE REFERRED TO AS KIAKAVO DINA. A TYPE OF THIS FORM WAS CALLED KIAKAVO VIVIDRASA WHICH REFERS TO THE MAGIMAGI COIR SENNET HANDLE WRAPINGS. I HAVE AN EXAMPLE OF THE KIAKAVO SHOWN ON CLUNIES FIGURE 1 IT IS ITEM C, PAGE 52. THIS EXAMPLE IS 29 INCHES LONG AND HAS A FULLY WRAPPED HANDLE ( FIBER WRAP IN POOR SHAPE). IT COULD BE USED FOR FIGHTING BUT AS MENTIONED ABOVE HAS NO SHARP SPUR OR EDGE AND IS SMALLER THAN THE AVERAGE FIGHTING CLUB.
HERE ARE 3 MORE PICTURES SHOWING A COMPARASON OF THE DANCE CLUB AND OF WHAT APPEARS TO BE A GOOD OLD FIGHTING CLUB OF THE SAME GENERAL FORM. THE FIGHTING CLUB IS 35 INCHES LONG AND HAS SEVERAL DIFFERENCES IN THE HEAD SHAPE WITH MORE BLADE LIKE STRIKING EDGES. THE BUTT END HAS THE PHALLIC SHAPE FOUND ON MOST OLDER FIJIAN CLUBS THAT HAVE LITTLE TONGAN INFLUENCE.
IN CLUNIE'S BOOK IT USES THE NAME KIAKAVA TO REFER ONLY TO DANCE CLUBS AND THE PICTURES ON PLATE 1 ARE ALL SUPPOSED TO BE DANCE CLUBS. ON MY SMALL EXAMPLE WITH THE WRAPPED HANDLE IT IS EASY TO SEE THE THINGS HE REFERS TO THAT SETS THEM APART, ON MY OTHER EXAMPLE MANY OF THESE INDICATORS ARE DIFFERENT? HERE ARE OTHER EXAMPLES CLOSE TO THIS FORM ONE WITH INSET HUMAN TEETH IT IS 35 INCHES LONG. TWO EXAMPLES HAVE FIBER RINGS ON THEM. UNFORTUNATELY I HAVE NO FURTHER INFO ON THESE EXAMPLES.

[KraVseR]

Thank you.
And muskets used by other warriors of the Oceania, yes? Samoans, Solomons, Tongan, etc.

[VANDOO]

ONE IMPORTANT THING I LEFT OUT ON IDENTIFYING THE KIAKAVO FORM OF CLUB. THERE IS A SMALL ROUNDED RIDGE LOCATED AT THE CROTCH OF THE SPUR AT THE HEAD OF THE CLUB. IT IS CALLED TERETERE AFTER THE COMB OF A ROOSTER OR THE FRILL OF THE IGUANA LIZZARD. THIS VERY RARELY SHOWS UP ON THE OTHER FORMS OF SPURRED CLUBS. SEE PICTURE .

[VANDOO]

THE NEXT FORM OF SPURRED CLUB IS THE GATA WHICH IS THE NAME OF THE PACIFIC PYTHON /BOA SNAKE. CLUNIE SIMPLIFYS THIS TO CALL THEM SNAKE CLUBS AS THE CLUB IS LIKE THE STRIKE OF A SNAKE (QUICK AND DEADLY). THE SPUR IS SHARPER AND HAS EDGES RATHER THAN A ROUNDED STRIKING SURFACE. THE CLUB EDGES COULD BREAK BONES AND THE SPUR COULD PENETRATE THE BODY OR SKULL OF THE FOE.
MOST GATA HAVE A CURVE TOWARD THE HEAD AS DOES THE KIAKAVO FORM BUT THERE IS A STRAIGHT FORM OF GATA CALLED TUDONU.
THERE IS QUITE A BIT OF VARIATION IN THIS FORM WHICH I WILL NOT GET INTO HERE TAKE A LOOK AT CLUNNIES BOOK FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.
THE FIRST 3 PICTURES ARE OF A CURVED GATA AND A STRAIGHT (TUDONU) CLUB. THE STRAIGHT CLUB WAS COLLECTED IN THE 1930'S AND IS 41.5 INCHES LONG. THE CURVED CLUB IS FROM THE 1960'S AND IS AN ART PIECE THE SHAFT TAPERS AND IS NOT ROUND AS IS TRADITIONAL BUT IT FOLLOWS FORM AND DECORATION WELL EXCEPT FOR THOSE TWO THINGS. THE OTHER 3 CLUBS SHOW SOME VARIATIONS ON FORM AND CARVING ONE EVEN HAVING INLAYED DESIGNS. THESE 3 SHOW TONGAN INFLUENCE ON THE BUTT ENDS AND CARVING STYLE AND WERE CARVED FROM THE 1950'S TO 1960'S. SIZE RANGE IS 41.5 TO 39.5 INCHES.
THREE PICTURES SHOWING FIJI WARRIORS WITH THE CLUB IN ONE OF ITS STRIKING POSITIONS.

[VANDOO]

A FEW MORE EXAMPLES OF THE GATA FORM OF CLUB. THE FIRST PICTURE IS OF THE CURRENT TOURIST MODEL COMPLETE WITH TAPA CLOTH AND SCRATCHED IN DESIGNS. THE SECOND EXAMPLE SHOWS A GOOD OLD FIJI CLUB REFERED TO AS GATA WAKA, THE WIDE CHEEKS OF THE CLUB WERE POUNDED WITH STONES TO SHAPE THE TREE BEFORE IT WAS CUT. THERE ARE A FEW PICTURES OF EXAMPLES OF THIS SORT OF CLUB WITH DIFFERENT RESULTS IN THE ROUGH FINISH OF THE CLUB. THE CLUBS WITH LOTS OF CARVEING SHOW TONGAN INFLUENCE AS USUAL.

[VANDOO]

MORE EXAMPLES OF GATA FORM CLUBS. NOTE TWO PICTURES HAVE CLUBS WITH HOLES THRU THE HEAD. THESE ARE CALLED TUDONU BECAUSE OF THE HOLES IN THE BLADE, THESE HOLES WOULD ORIGINALLY HAVE BEEN STRUNG WITH WIRY BLACK WAIOA CREEPERS THREADED WITH MULTI-COLORED TRADE BEADS. THE FORTH PICTURE MAY SHOW A FORM REFERED TO AS A WAKA KIAKAVO THIS WOULD BE DUE TO THE PRESENCE OF THE SMALL RIDGE AT THE CROTCH OF THE SPUR.

[VANDOO]

THESE ARE THE LAST OF THE GATA FORM THE NEXT FORM IS THE SALI WHICH HAS EVEN MORE SIMULARITY TO THE GATA FORM THAN THE KIAKAVO TO EITHER OF THE OTHER TWO. THERE ARE MORE SUB-CATEGORYS AMONG THE MAIN 3 TYPES OF SPURRED CLUBS BUT I HAVE NOT TRYED TO BREAK THEM DOWN COMPLETELY HERE. HOPEFULLY I HAVE NOT MIXED THEM UP ALREADY.
THREE PICTURES TOWARD THE END ARE OF ONE EXAMPLE OF A VERY GOOD TONGAN CARVED GATA CLUB.

[VANDOO]

THE SALI FORM OF CLUB IS SIMULAR TO THE GATA FORM BUT HAS WIDER CHEEKS AND THE CURVE CONTINUES FARTHER DOWN THE LEGNTH OF THE CLUB SHAFT. I FIND THIS ESTHETICALY PLEASING IN THE WELL DONE FORMS. NOT ALL SALI ARE THIS GRACEFUL AND THERE ARE VARIATIONS REFERRED TO BY THI NAME SALI, CALI OR TEBETEBE . THESE CLUBS ARE THOUGHT TO HAVE BEEN NAMED AFTER THE CLAWED SALI FLOWER ONE OF THE BANNANA LIKE PLANTS. CLUNIE STATES " THEIR LONGER BROADER CHEEKS AND THEIR MORE HIGHLY DEVELOPED CREST OR SPUR DISTINGUISH THEM FROM GATA CLUBS". THEY WERE FIGHTING CLUBS BUT SAID TO BE USED IN DANCING OFTEN HELD BY THE SPUR DURING THE DANCE.
THE FIRST EXAMPLE IS THE CLASSIC FORM THE OTHERS ARE IDENTIFIED AS SALI BUT IF SO ARE LESS CLASIC IN FORM. THE WARRIOR IN THE PICTURE HAS A SALI AND THERE IS A PICTURE OF ONE IN THE PICTURE OF FIJI CLUBS.
BELOW THAT ARE PICTURES OF 3 EXAMPLES OF A UNUSUAL FORM NOW ON THE MARKET SOMETIMES REFERED TO AS A SALI ONE EXAMPLE IS INLAYED WITH SHELL IT IS 41 IN. X 9 IN.. THIS CLUB DOSEN'T APPEAR IN PARTINGTONS OR IN CLUNIES BOOK. EXCEPT THERE IS A PICTURE ON PLATE 10 IN CLUNIES BOOK BY REV. THOMAS WILLIAMS WITH A DRAWING DESCRIBED AS A GATA WITH A UNUSUAL SNAIL LIKE HEAD. THIS IS THE ONLY BASIS FOR THIS FORM OF CLUB I HAVE FOUND. I DID NOT FIND INFORMATION ON THE REV.WILLIAMS SO DATE AND TIME AS WELL AS THE ACCURACY OF THE DRAWINGS ARE UNKNOWN.
THE LAST TWO ARE OF A UNUSUAL FORM SOLD TO ME AS A SALI BUT IT IS ONLY 24 X 7.5 INCHES I CONSIDER IT A GATA PERHAPS FOR DANCE BUT IT DOES SHOW PATINA AND WEAR AND WOULD BE AN EFFECTIVE WEAPON.

[VANDOO]

HERE ARE TWO EXAMPLES OF SPURED FORMS BUT NOT BASED ON ANY OLD EXAMPLES I KNOW OF. I WOULD CLASSIFY THESE AS FANTASY CLUBS AND AS ART ONLY SO NOT REALLY ETHINOGRAPHIC EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE MADE IN OCEANA POSSIBLY FIJI BUT NEVER SERVED ANY FUNCTION IN THE SOCIETY. ONE SEEMS TO INCORPORATE THE SAMOAN TEETH AS WELL AS TONGAN CARVING INTO THE FIJI FORM. THE OTHER HAS TONGAN AND FIJI ELEMENTS AND THOUGH A FANTASY CLUB SHOWS A SPLIT FORM OF HEAD. THERE IS A DRAWING IN CLUNIES BOOK OF A SPLIT FORM OF CLUB THOUGH IT IS SPLIT IN A DIFFERENT MANNER THAN THIS ONE SO THERE IS PRECIDENT FOR THAT ASPECT AS WELL AS THE GENERAL SHAPE OVERALL. FANTASY THEY MAY BE BUT THEY WOULD SURELY LEAVE A MARK IF USED

[VANDOO]

1. THIS IS AN UNUSUAL FORM 28 INCHES LONG FIRST 3 PICTURES. AN EXAMPLE IS IN CLUNIES PLATE 12 ITEM G, REFERRED TO AS " VUNIKAU I DO NOT KNOW THE SPECIFIC NAME OF THE VUNIKAU OR " TREE ROOT" CLUB. THERE IS A EXAMPLE IN THE FIJI MUSEUM COLLECTION BUT EVIDENTLY NOT MUCH INFORMATION ON IT OTHER THAN THE QUOTE ABOVE AND THE DRAWING.

2. THIS IS ANOTHER SELDOM SEEN FORM THE CLOSEST TO IT IN CLUNIES BOOK IS PLATE 3 DRAWING B.IDENTIFIED AS TAVO, A RARE TYPE OF GATA TYPE WITH NO SPUR. THIS EXAMPLE IS 93 CM. LONG WITH NO CARVED DECORATION. IT FUNCTIONS IN BATTLE LIKE A GATA OR SALI BUT HAS NO SPIKE.

3.THIS IS A SAWED OFF FIJI CLUB OF A FORM SEEN ON PLATE 9 FIG.E. SAID TO BE A FORM INTRODUCED FROM TONGA.

[VANDOO]

THESE FORMS OF CLUB SEEM TO BE TONGAN BUT DUE TO THE PRESENCE OF TONGAN SETTLEMENTS IN FIJI ARE TO BE FOUND IN CLUNIES BOOK THE DRAWINGS ARE TO BE FOUND ON PLATE 9. WITH TEXT ON PAGE 56.
PICTURES 1 AND 2 OF A CLUB WITH A BROAD FAN SHAPED HEAD PERHAPS CALLED A DUI. THE CLUB IS 28INCHES LONG.
PICTURES 3 & 4 TWO DIFFERENT FORMS OF THE TYPE.
ONE PICTURE OF AN UNUSUAL LONG FORM SAID TO BE FROM FIJI BUT NO REFERENCE OTHER THAN SALE INFO.
SEVERAL PICTURES OF THE SQUARE ENDED TONGAN FORM RANGEING FROM 31 TO 32 INCHES LONG. NO INFORMATION IN CLUNIES BOOK OTHER THAN TONGAN.

[VANDOO]

CONTINUING THE TONGAN FORMS OF FIJI CLUBS SEEN ON PLATE 9 CLUNIES BOOK.
#1 THRU 4. A FAN SHAPED EXAMPLE, 78 X 17 CM. LONG, NOTE CARVING DESIGN IS TAVATAVA DESIGN
#5 THRU 8. MORE EXAMPLES OF THE SQUARE ENDED FORM MANY WITH TONGAN FULLY CARVED DESIGNS. NOTE PICTURE 5 ITEM AIM14702 HAS TAVATAVA DESIGN
#9 THRU 12. TONGAN FORM 1900, THREE FEET LONG, THIS EXAMPLE HAS TAVATAVA DESIGN CARVING.

THE LUG ON THE BUTT OF THESE CLUBS SOMETIMES WITH A HOLE FOR A CORD IS A TONGAN FEATURE BROUGHT TO FIJI.

[VANDOO]

POLE CLUBS,
FIJI HAD TWO BASIC VARIETYS OF FIGHTING CLUBS THE STRAIGHT ONES SOMETIMES CALLED GADI BECAUSE THEY WERE OFTEN MADE OF GADI WOOD BUT THE WOOD WAS ALSO USED ON OTHER TYPES OF CLUBS AS WELL.
GADI, THIS WAS A STRAIGHT POLE NOT FLARED AT EITHER END THOUGH SOMETIMES TAPERING TO A SMALLER GRIP. THE GRIP IS OFTEN THE ONLY PART OF THE CLUB WITH CARVING WHICH IS USUALLY OF THE TAVA TAVA STYLE WHICH SEEMS TO BE THE MOST PREVELANT DECORATIVE DESIGN IN FIJI CLUBS. SOME OF THESE CLUBS HAVE A ROUNDED STRIKING END AND SOME HAVE A FLAT ONE. THE BUTT OF THE CLUB IS USUALLY FLAT OR SOMETIMES HAS A CONCAVE HOLE , SOME WITH INLAY.
THE OTHER FORM IS MORE LIKE A BASEBALL BAT WITH A LARGER STRIKING END AND FLAREING OUT AT THE SMALLER BUTT END BELOW THE GRIP. THIS WAS CALLED A BOWAI AOI AND WAS THOUGHT TO HAVE ORIGINATED ON TONGA WHERE IT WAS CALLED POVAI. IT WAS WIDELY USED IN FIJI AND THE FAVORITE CLUB OF RATU SERU CAKOBAU . HIS CLUB WAS MADE INTO THE MACE OF THE FIJI HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. OFTEN BOTH FORMS OF POLE CLUBS ARE CALLED BOWAI BUT THERE IS A DIFFERENCE. BOTH TYPES OF CLUBS WERE OVER 100 CM. LONG. SEPARATING THEM FROM THE SHORTER CUDGLES OF SIMULAR FORM. THE FULLY CARVED POLE CLUBS WERE USUALLY TONGAN EITHER FROM TONGA OR MADE BY TONGANS IN FIJI OR SAMOA OR WHERE EVER THEY MIGHT BE. THE FIJIANS LIKED TO INLAY IVORY IN THEIR CLUBS EITHER MARINE IVORY (WHALE, ECT) OR HUMAN IVORY TEETH.
PICTURES
1. AN EXAMPLE OF TAVA TAVA DESIGN, ON A PRE 1850 CLUB BUTT.
2. 3. & 4 A BOWAI ,FULLY CARVED IN TAVA TAVA DESIGN 32 INCHES LONG AND END 7 INCHES IN CIRCUMFRENCE
5. FULLY CARVED BOWAI WITH ANOTHER FORM OF FIJI CLUB.
6 &7 CLOSER TO A GADI FORM THAN A BOWAI WITH A INTERESTING DESIGN ON THE CLUBS BUTT AND A ROUNDED TOP. 50.5 INCHES LONG
8, 9.&10 CARVING DETAIL TAVA TAVA ON POLE CLUB BUTTS
11. ROUNDED STRIKING HEAD OF BOWAI , TAVA TAVA DESIGN
12 CONCAVE BUTT END OF A PLAIN GADI CLUB

[VANDOO]

A FEW MORE EXAMPLES MOSTLY BOWAI. THERE IS ONE PICTURE OF A GADI STRIKING END WITH IVORY INLAYS AND PICTURE 1 AND 4 THE ROUNDED END AND CARVED BUTT END OF A PLAIN GADI, THE OTHERS ARE BOWAI. ONE BOWAI HAS A MARINE IVORY ROUND INLAY SET IN THE BUTT OF THE CLUB. THE LAST TWO PICTURES ARE OF THE MACE OF THE FIJI HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES THAT WAS MENTIONED IN THE ABOVE POST.

[VANDOO]

I AM FINALLY COMING TO THE END OF FIJI LONG CLUBS AND HAVE ADDED FIJI AXES AND THEN SOME OLD PICTURES OF VARIOUS CLUB FORMS.
PICTURES
1&2. FIJI TAVO A RARE TYPE OF GATA OR SALI WITH NO SPUR OR METO. 40 INCHES LONG SEE CLUNIE PLATE 3 FIG.B , TEXT ON PAGE 53
3. UNUSUAL FORM OF GATA
4. & 5. TWO NEWLY MADE KINIKINI /CULACULA FORM OF CLUB CIRC 1960'S OR LATER.
6 & 7. ALL WOOD FIJI AX PICTURE OF TAVATAVA DESIGN ON GRIP AND AX PIC.
8. OLD PICTURE FIJI FIGHTING AXES
9. 1840 PRINT OF FIJI ITEMS
10. 1910 BOOK, PLATE FIJI WEAPONS
11. 1917 BOOK, FIJI WEAPONS PLATE
12. FIJI CLUBS VARIOUS FORMS.

[VANDOO]

PICTURES
1,2 & 3. TWO OLD PRE-CONTACT GADI POLE CLUBS. BOTH FROM MUSEUM DEACESSIONS THRU BIG AUCTION COMPANYS. #1. EXTRA LARGE EXAMPLE WITH IVORY INLAY IN BUTT OF CLUB, 44.5INCHES LONG, 2.25IN. IN DIAMETER. #2. SMALLER CLUB WITH GOOD PATINA 41 INCHES LONG, 1.5 INCHES IN DIAMETER.
4, 5 & 6. GOOD OLD PRE-CONTACT ROOTSTOCK CLUB 44 INCHES LONG,1.75 INCHES IN DIA.
7, 8 & 9. FAN SHAPED FORM SEE PLATE 8 IN CLUNIE AS CLOSE AS I CAN TELL IT FITS IN WITH THE KINIKINI CHIEFS CLUBS. NEWER REPLICA 1960'S OR EARLIER PEARL SHELL INLAY. 40.5 IN. LONG 8.5 WIDE BLADE.
10 & 11. ANOTHER VARIATION FAN SHAPED FORM ALSO FITS MOST CLOSELY WITH KINIKINI FORMS AS ABOVE. 39.5 IN. LONG X 9.26 IN. WIDE
12. OLD DRAWING OF FIJI MEKEMEKE DANCE.

[VANDOO]

PICTURES
1, 2, & 3. VERY FANCY KINIKINI CHIEFS CLUB , EXCELLENT CARVING WITH PEARL SHELL INLAY FULLY CARVED BOTH SIDES. NOT SURE OF AGE, FIJI. 40 INCHES LONG, BLADE 18.25 IN. LONG AND 8 INCHES WIDE.
4 & 5 A FORM OF CLUB THOUGHT TO HAVE ORIGINATED IN TONGA BUT SAW USE IN FIJI, CALLED TEIVAKATOGA SEE CLUNIE PLATE 9, FIGURE F. 41 INCHES LONG , BLADE 9 INCHES WIDE.
6, 7, & 8. ANOTHER TONGAN FULLY CARVED FORM OF CLUB USED IN FIJI SEE CLUNIE PLATE 9 FIGURE D. 50 INCHES LONG, BLADE 7IN. WIDE.
9, 10, 11 & 12. VARIOUS FIJI CLUBS.

[VANDOO]

SOMETIMES ARTISTIC LICENCE MAY LEAD TO THE CREATION OF A REAL ARTEFACT. IT IS NOT UNUSUAL TO HAVE A CLUB OR ARTEFACT WE CAN NOT FIND IN ANY REFERENCE, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE VERY LIMITED REFRENCES AVAILABLE. A PICTURE IN A 1879 MAGAZINE ARTICLE MAY ILLUSTRATE THIS.
ARTISTIC LICENCE AS WELL AS LITERARY LICENCE ( "LICENCE" MEANING MAKEING MOST OF THE STORY UP WITH FEW FACTS AND NO PHOTOGRAPHS.) MY 3 PICTURES OF AN UNKNOWN FORM OF CLUB MATCH UP TO NOTHING IN MY REFRENCES BUT RESEMBLE ONE OF THE CLUBS IN THE DRAWING FROM THE MAGAZINE MOST CLOSELY. THIS EXAMPLE CAME OFF THE WALLS OF ONE OF THE OLD TIKI RESTURANTS NOW LONG GONE. IT IS PURE DECOR AND THE CRAFTSMAN MAY VERY WELL HAVE GOTTEN HIS IDEA FROM THIS OLD MAGAZINE PICTURE AND DID A FAIR JOB EVEN CARVING BOTH SIDES. SORRY FOR THE MAGAZINE PICTURE QUALITY, WHEN RESIZED IT LOST SOME CLARITY.
PICTURES #1 PICTURE FROM 1879 MAGAZINE, FIJI CANNIBALS MURDERING AND EATING MISSONARIES.
2,3 & 4 UNKNOWN CLUB 39 INCHES LONG LOOKS SIMULAR TO CLUB PICTURED
5 & 6 ANOTHER UNKNOWN CLUB 42 INCHES LONG MADE IN FIJI 1950'S
7. A FORM OF CLUB THOUGHT TO BE TONGAN IN ORIGIN SAID TO BE FROM FIJI.
8. A PICTURE OF 3 WARRIORS USED TO MAKE A DRAWING OF THE CENTER WARRIOR WITH HIS LARGE ROOTSTOCK CLUB WRAPPED WITH ALTERNATING RED AND BLACK SINNET CORD FOUND IN PARTINGTON'S VERY LARGE REFRENCE BOOK.
9. A VERY LARGE AND UNUSUAL FIJI ULU THROWING CLUB, APPEARS TO BE A ROOTSTOCK FORM. OR PERHAPS A CAULIFLOUR FORM
10. FIJI 1860 DRAWING OF PROCESSION PASING BY CHIEF AND VISITORS TO BE FOLLOWED BY A DANCE. THE TALL BUILDING IS THEIR TEMPLE WHERE THE CHIEF AND VISITORS ARE STANDING.
11. 1920 PICTURE OF WARRIORS PREPARING FOR THE MEKEMEKE WAR DANCE.
12. A 1950'S SOUVINEER VERSION OF A UNCOMMON LONGER CLUB DISCUSSED PREVIOUSLY IN THIS TOPIC. THIS EXAMPLE IS 16 INCHES LONG SO WOULD FIT INTO THE THROWING CLUB SIZE AND CATEGORY. IT IS NOT A COMMON FORM IN THROWING CLUBS EITHER. NOTE THE ACORN SHAPED HEAD.

[VANDOO]

THE ULA FIJI THROWING CLUB COMES IN SEVERAL FORMS AND NOT ALL WERE WAR CLUBS. THERE WERE LIGHTER CLUBS SIMULAR TO THE FORMS USED IN WAR BUT THESE WERE HUNTING CLUBS. THE HUNTING CLUBS WERE USED TO HUNT BIRDS SUCH AS PIGEONS AS WELL AS THE LARGE FRUIT BATS KNOWN AS FLYING FOX. NO DOUBT THE YOUNG BOYS PRACTICED WITH THESE WHILE HUNTING TO GET THE SKILL AND ACCURACY LATER NEEDED FOR SURVIVAL DURING BATTLE. I DON'T HAVE PICTURES OF ALL THE FORMS SHOWN IN CLUNIES BOOK ON PLATES 20 &21 PAGES 59 THRU 63 SO SEE THE BOOK FOR MORE INFORMATION. I WILL PUT PICTURES OF WHAT I HAVE AND ADD WHAT I CAN FIND AS IT IT BECOMES AVAILABLE. THESE FIRST 12 PICTURES ARE OF THE FORM ULA TAVA TAVA WAR CLUBS WHICH HAVE INTRICATELY CARVED FLUTED HEADS. THEIR NAME COMES FROM THE FLANGES OR SERRATIONS ON THE HEAD WHICH WERE THE ORIGINAL ROOTS OR FLANGES OF THE SHRUBS THEY ARE MADE FROM. PICTURES
#1. HEAD OF ONE VARIATION OF THE FORM.
# 2, 3 & 4. AN EXAMPLE OF THE FORM SHOWING VARIOUS ASPECTS, IT IS 17.25 INCHES LONG WHICH IS THE USUAL RANGE IN SIZE GIVE OR TAKE A FEW INCHES.
# 5 & 6 A UNUSUAL FORM WITH SOME ASPECTS OF THE ULA TAVA TAVA AND A FORM CALLED ULA SOBA BECAUSE THE END IS SIMULAR IN SHAPE TO THE FRUIT HEAD OF THE VUDI PLANTAIN BUNCH.ONE PICTURE SHOWS THE HEAD AND THE OTHER THE BUTT END WITH THE CONCAVE HOLLOW. THERE ARE STORIES (WHICH I DON'T BELIEVE) THAT THE CLUB IS THROWN SO THE HANDLE PENETRATES THE BODY AND CAUSES A SUCTION WHEN PULLED OUT DRAGGING OUT BLOOD AND INSIDES. NOT ALL ULA CLUB BUTTS HAVE THIS HOLLOW, SOME ARE FLAT OR HAVE A SMALLER HOLE FOR INLAY.
# 7. ANOTHER VARIATION
# 8. A UNUSUAL FORM WITH A SQUARE HEAD
# 9. & 10. TWO MORE UNUSUAL VARIATIONS OF THE FORM ONE WITH DESIGN CARVED ON THE HEAD.
# 11 & 12. TWO PICTURES OF THE SAME CLUB.

[VANDOO]

THE ULA TAVA TAVA FORM OF CLUBS ARE THE MOST ESTHETICALY PLEASING AND THE ONES WITH IVORY INLAY ESPECIALLY SO. THIS AND THE PRICES REALIZED IS WHY MOST MODERN REPLICAS MADE ARE IN THIS FORM. THIS IS BOTH GOOD AND BAD NEWS AS THERE ARE SOME BEAUTIFUL MODERN ONES BEING MADE AND AS THE VERY FANCY ONES WITH IVORY INLAY ARE VERY RARE IT IS POSSIBLE TO OWN A NICE REPLICA. THE GOOD NEWS IS THERE ARE QUITE A FEW GOOD OLD ULA CLUBS AVAILABLE AS WARRIORS OFTEN CARRIED MORE THAN ONE. WHERE THE MODERN REPLICAS AND SOME NON TRADITIONAL FORMS ARE BEING MADE IS IN QUESTION BUT IT IS CERTIAN NOT ALL OF THEM HAVE BEEN MADE IN FIJI.
MOST ALL ULA ARE MADE FROM ONE SOLID PIECE OF WOOD BUT THE UNUSUAL ONE PICTURED IN PICTURE #4 MAY BE THE EXCEPTION WITH SEPARATE SHAFT AND HEAD.
PICTURES 1 AND 9 ARE OF MODERN ONES FOR TOURISTS AND LIKELY MADE IN THE SOLOMON ISLANDS, LIKELY FROM THE SAME LOCATION AS THE RENNEL ISLAND CLUBS THAT ABOUND ON EBAY.
THE GROUP PICTURES OF ULA FEATURE VARIOUS FORMS FROM PAST AUCTIONS THE CATALOGS ARE GOOD REFRENCES WITH GOOD PICTURES.

[VANDOO]

A FEW MORE #1 ULA TAVA TAVA WITH THE MORE NATURAL ROOTSTOCK FORMS CALLED # 2 ULA KOBO WHICH ARE LESS REGULAR IN SHAPE WITH LESS CARVING. ONE PICTURE IS OF A SPLIT ROUND BALL HEADED FORM CALLED #3 ULA DRISIA THIS SHOWS THE SOLID ONE PIECE CONSTRUCTION OF THESE CLUBS WELL. WE HAVE EXAMPLES OF THE THREE MAIN FORMS HERE.
ONE SHOWS A CLUB BUTT WITH A RING SORT OF IDENTATION. ONE SHOWS A RARE CLUB WITH A HUMAN FACE CARVED IN IT. ONE PICTURE OF A BALL HEAD FORM WITH A HUMAN TOOTH INLAYED INTO THE CLUB HEAD.
A PICTURE OF WARRIOR POSED WITH GATA CLUB AND 3 THROWING CLUBS. NOTE ONE IS QUITE A BIT SMALLER SO MAY BE A HUNTING CLUB AND THE OTHER TWO DIFFERENT FORMS OF WAR ULU CLUBS. HE HAS A FAN USED FOR BLOCKING LIGHT ARROWS OR TO FAN AS NEEDED.

[VANDOO]

#2. CLOSEUP DETAIL OF A BALL HEADED ULA DRISIA (IT IS CALLED BY SEVERAL DIFFERENT NAMES IN DIF. DIALECTS BUT I USE THIS ONE)
#1. CLOSEUP OF NATURAL ROOT BALL HEAD OF ULA KOBO THIS FORM MORE ROUNDED THAN IS USUAL.
#3. FIJI WARRIOR WITH ULU AND SPEAR
#4 & 5. WHAT APPEARS TO BE A VERY WORN SMALL HUNTING CLUB.
#6.& 7. ULU BULIBULI FORM LIKE THE WAR CLUB OF THE SAME NAME. THERE IS A PICTURE OF A RARE ULU WITH A CROOKED HANDLE IN ONE PICTURE.
#8. ULA GASAU A FORM THOUGHT TO HAVE BEEN RESTRICTED TO THE VITI LEVU HIGHLANDS IT IS SHAPED LIKE THE HEAD OF A ULUTOA ,HEAD OF A TIQA THROWING DART. THIS IS A 1950'S SOUVINEER AND IS THE CLOSEST I CAN COME TO THE FORM.

[colin henshaw]

As an aside to VANDOO's thread - the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Cambridge, England currently has showing an excellent exhibition, "Chiefs & Governors, Art and Power in Fiji" with many examples of clubs, spears and other Fijian artefacts.

See www.maa.cam.ac.uk

[VANDOO]

THANKS COLIN PERHAPS I CAN FIND AN EXCUSE TO POP OVER FOR A LOOK BEFORE THE EXHIBIT ENDS.
I SEE THE FORUMS AS A LIVING REFRENCE AND RESOURCE, WHERE INFORMATION AND PICTURES CAN BE GATHERED AND NEW THINGS ADDED AND QUESTIONS ASKED BY ALL.
WHAT I HAVE DONE WITH THE FIJI POST AS WELL AS THE OTHER POSTS ON CLUBS IS TO ESTABLISH A ROUGH FOUNDATION FOCUSED ON ARTEFACTS FROM THESE AREAS. THIS MAKES IT EASIER TO FIND INFORMATION ON EACH AREA WHEN INFORMATION, PICTURES AND QUESTIONS ARE GATHERED IN ONE PLACE. ANYONE MAY ACCESS THESE POSTS AND PERHAPS FIND THE INFORMATION SOUGHT OR IDENTIFY THEIR CLUB AND HOPEFULLY POST A PICTURE OF THEIR ITEM TO ADD TO THE RESOURCE.
I HOPE IT WILL GROW OVER TIME AND PERHAPS INSPIRE INTREST IN SOME YOUNGSTER TO PURSUE KNOWLEGE IN THE FIELD. THEN PERHAPS IT WILL YEILD SOME NEEDED REFRENCE BOOKS IN THE FUTURE.
THIS IS ALL I HAVE AT PRESENT SO I STOP HERE UNTIL MORE INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO POST PICTURES AND INFORMATION, ASK QUESTIONS OR CORRECT ME IF I HAVE MADE MISTAKES.

[Sajen]

Thank you Barry for this great and informativeinformative thread.
Can add this two plates from "Handbook to the Ethnographical Collections", Britsh Musem from 1910.

[VANDOO]

I WILL TRY TO ADD A FEW LINKS TO PREVIOUS POSTS THAT MAY APPLY TO THIS TOPIC AND CLUBS IN GENERAL TO MAKE FINDING THEM EASIER FOR THOSE INTERESTED.
THE FIRST LINK IS ON DESIGNS ON OCEANIC CLUBS.
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ighlight=maori

THE SECOND ONE OF A SERIES OF 3 ON MAORI SHORT CLUBS
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ighlight=MAORI

3RD http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ighlight=MAORI

4TH. http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ighlight=MAORI

5TH. A USEFUL POST ON NEW GUINEA/ TROBRIAND ISLAND CLUBS.
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ighlight=MAORI

6 TH. A INTERESTING POST ON A WHALEBONE CLUB DIDCUSSING ORIGIN AND AGE, MAORI OR NORTH WEST COAST AMERICAN INDIAN.
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ighlight=MAORI

7TH. DISCUSSION OF UNUSUAL FORM OF MAORI CLUB.
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ighlight=MAORI

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MORE PICTURES
#1. 1917 BOOK PLATE, 3 GUGU OR TIVITIVI CLUBS
#2, #3 & 4. TWO NEW FIJI ULAS SHOWING ONE REGULAR FORM AND A FORM LIKELY SHOWING INDIA INFLUENCE I REFER TO IT AS A LOTUS CLUB. PEOPLE FROM INDIA HAVE NOT BEEN LIVING IN FIJI AS LONG AS THE TONGANS BUT THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF INDIAN INFLUENCE.
#5. NEWER ULA 48 X 16 CM. LONG.
#6. A REGULAR TOTOKIA FIJI CLUB AND THE FORM MADE UP FOR STAR WARS BASED ON IT.
#7. WESI OR SPEAR DANCE FIJI
# 8. PLATE FROM OLD BOOK FIJI CLUBS
# 9. THE ROYAL MACE OF FIJI
# 10. 1870 FIJI WARRIOR
# 11 & 12. 1910 CANNIBAL TOM SAID TO BE 90 YEARS OLD AND THE LAST LIVING CANNIBAL AT THE TIME.

[VANDOO]

A FEW MORE PICTURES #1. 12 INCH LONG MODERN TOURIST ULA THROWING CLUB
#2. 1920 FIGI DRUMMER
#3. 1920'S FIJI WARRIORS
#4.1930 PAGOPAGO AMERICAN SAMOA
#5. 1930 FIJI WARRIOR
#6 & 7. FIJI MOCK BATTLE
#8. FIJI WARRIOR WITH CLUB
#9. FIJI WARRIOR WITH WAR AX
#10, 11, & 12 FIJI WARRIORS VARIOUS.

[VANDOO]

IN THE ABOVE POST A PICTURE OF 4 SAMOANS GOT INTO THE FIJI TOPIC VERY SNEEKY OF THEM IT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN MY MISTAKE


PICTURE #1 DRAWING OF DANCER WITH FIJI DANCE SKIRT THEY ARE MADE OF PAINTED PANDANUS LEAF STRIPS AND OF BARK CLOTH STRIPS (TAPA). THE ONE SHOWN ALSO HAS A SORT OF DECORATION.
#2 & #3 SHOWS THE SKIRT WORN FOR WAR IT IS MADE OF A PARTICULAR TYPE OF BLACK VINE OVER SOME OTHER MATERIAL. SKIRT CALLED (LIKU WALOA).
#4. POSTCARD SHOWING 3 WARRIORS WITH CLUBS
#5. CULACULA MADE OF VESI WOOD 45.5 IN. LONG
#6. OVER SIZE CANNIBAL FORK 35 IN. LONG FOR TOURISTS
#7. FIJI BOVAI CLUB
#8. FIJI FOODS FOR FEAST 1930'S
#9. OLD PRINT FIJI , VARIOUS PICTURES
#10. OLD PRINT FIJI WAR SPEARS, CALLED SOKILAKI
#11. FIJI SHOP WITH ASSORTMENT OF MODERN CLUBS MANY FANTASY FORMS.
#12. TWO WARRIORS POSED PICTURE TAKEN IN 1884