MOST DESIRED OCEANIC WAR CLUBS 3: FIJI

VANDOO · 9th February 2013, 12:55 AM

THE MOST RECOGNIZABLE AND DESIRABLE OF THE CLUBS FROM FIJI IS THE TOTOKIA, ALSO KNOWN AS THE PINNAPPLE CLUB OR BEAKED WAR HAMMER.
THIS CLUB ACHIVED MORE WIDESPREAD FAME IN THE STAR WARS MOVIE, IT WAS REFERRED TO AS A GAFFI STICK AND WAS CARRIED BY THE SAND PEOPLE ALSO KNOWN AS TUSKAN RAIDERS.
THE CLUB IS THOUGHT TO HAVE EVOLVED IN FIJI FROM THE EARLIER "I- TUKI" FORMS OF BATTLE HAMMER. THEY RESEMBLED THE TOTOKIA BUT EITHER LACKED THE SPIKE ENTIRELY OR HAD A VERY SHORT WIDE ONE. THESE WERE FAVORED BY CHIEFS AND FAMOUS WARRIORS AND OFTEN THE CLUB ITSELF ACHIVED FAME THRU ITS OWNERS EXPLOITS AND EARNED A NAME IT WAS USUALLY " THE PENIS OF SO AND SO"

THESE CLUBS WERE OFTEN AMONG THE BURIAL GOODS OF IMPORTANT PEOPLE.
THEY WERE MADE BY BENDING A SMALL TREE AND CAUSING THE BOTTOM PART NEAR THE ROOTS TO GROW THICK. WHEN THE TREE WAS THE PROPER SIZE IT WAS HARVESTED AND THE CLUB CARVED FROM THE ONE PIECE OF WOOD. THERE ARE A FEW RARE CLUBS WITH THE SPIKE MADE OUT OF SPERM WHALE TOOTH, THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN A HIGH PRESTIEGE ITEM. THESE CLUBS WERE FAST AND DID NOT REGUIRE A LARGE WINDUP OR SWING AND WERE LETHAL WITH A LOT LESS FORCE. THIS MADE THEM VERY GOOD FOR AMBUSH ALONG A TRAIL AS ONE QUICK SHORT STRIKE POKED A NEAT HOLE IN THE VICTUMS HEAD. THEY WERE GOOD FOR FIGHTING IN HEAVY BUSH AS A LARGE SWING AREA WAS NOT REQUIRED. THEY WERE JUST AS GOOD IN THE OPEN AND WERE A QUICK WAY OF FINISHING OFF WOUNDED OR OF EXECUTING CAPTIVES.
THE SPIKE OR BEAK WAS CALLED "BATI-NI-SESE" IN SOME AREAS WHICH MENT TOOTH OR BEAK OF THE KINGFISHER. THERE WERE OTHER VARIATIONS IN DIFFERENT AREAS DUE TO DIFFERENT DIALECTS.
MOST OF THIS INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND IN THE BOOK "FIJIAN WEAPONS & WARFARE, BY FERGUS CLUNIE, I HIGHLY RECOMEND IT FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN FIJI.
HERE ARE SOME PICTURES MOST OF THESE CLUBS HAVE A ROUND HEAD BUT ONE PICTURE SHOWS AN OVAL FORM. SOME CLUBS HAVE CARVED DESIGNS ON THE GRIPS AND MANY DO NOT SOME MAY HAVE HAD FIBER WRAPS AS WELL BUT IT SEEMS TO BE VERY RARE. BUT FIBER WOULD NOT HAVE SURVIVED VERY LONG THIS IS TRUE ON OTHER CLUBS FROM FIJI AND ELSWHERE TOO. THE PICTURE OF TWO TOTOKIA AND SOME OTHER CLUBS HAS ONE WITH A WHALE IVORY BEAK. FOR AN IDEA OF SIZE RANGE THE ONE WITH THE OVAL HEAD IS 39.5INCHES LONG AND ONE OF THE OTHERS IS 31 INCHES LONG.THE TWO I HAVE ARE 29.5 IN. AND 30 IN. LONG. THEY CAN VARY IN MASS. THE OLDER ONES I HAVE SEEN ARE USUALLY HEAVIER WITH A LARGER HEAD AND SHAFT AND GRIP THAT IS CLOSE TO 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER.

Battara · 9th February 2013, 01:57 AM

I wonder how the heck you fight with these?

Great carvings though.........

T. Koch · 9th February 2013, 03:26 AM

Wooo, I am so very excited to see another installment in your "Most Desired..."-series, Vandoo! I hope this one grows with time too.

Battara, don't you think that you just indescriminately smash up whatever is in front of you?

I'd hate to stand in the way of the guy in the top pic, I mean just look at the size of that thing!!

Totokias are just awesome! I wasn't aware that they were also made from training down a tree like that, I thought it was a solely a kiakavo-thing.

Thanks for the info and the great pics - I'm looking forward to see were this goes!

Saludos, - Thor

VANDOO · 9th February 2013, 03:46 AM

THE CLUB WOULD BE KEPT IN A HIGH GAURD POSITION CLOSE IN TO THE BODY. STRIKES WOULD BE SHORT USING THE POINT WHICH WOULD PENETRATE FLESH AS WELL AS BONE. ONE GOOD HIT TO THE SKULL WOULD LIKELY END THE FIGHT. THE FIJI CLUB FIGHTING INVOLVED A LOT OF JUMPING ABOUT AND FIENTS WERE MADE. BLOCKING WAS ALSO POSSIBLE USING THE SHAFT OR CROOKED PART BY THE HEAD BUT YA HAD TO BE CAREFUL NOT TO GET YOUR FINGERS IN IT.

FROM AMBUSH THE TECKNIQUE WAS MUCH EASIER AND MORE SURE AS IT WAS OFTEN USED ON LONE INDIVIDUALS FOR THE PURPOSE OF GETTING DINNER.

VANDOO · 29th June 2013, 02:26 AM

THIS CLUB FORM IS RARE AND EVEN FERGUS CLUNIE HAS NO NAME FOR IT ,THERE IS A PICTURE OF IT ON PLATE 4 ITEM G, TEXT ON PG 54.
THERE ARE REPLICAS OF THIS CLUB WHICH ARE LESS RARE. I INCLUDE THIS HERE DUE TO ITS RARIETY NOT BECAUSE IT IS ONE OF THE MOST SOUGHT AFTER OF FIJI CLUBS. I CAN'T SAY IF THESE EXAMPLES ARE ORIGINALS OR REPLICAS BUT THE PICTURES WILL SHOW THE PROPER FORM. SIZE RANGE IS FROM 38INCHES TO 5 FOOT 11 INCHES LONG

dolly-dagger · 29th June 2013, 11:52 AM

Hi Vandoo,
Thank you.Yes, the large Totokia does have some unusual design elements added to the face of the club.There is a similar example in an old Sotheby's catalogue that I have,as well as the one in the French publication of Fijian weapons,one in the group of the images that you posted regarding the Totokia History.This Totokia is a rather large example,with the diameter of the head 7-1/2 inches,and measures 6-1/2 inches from the back of the head to the end of the point.The carving to the handle is 9 inches,and the handle is 2 inches wide,and overall length is about 35 inches,and indeed carved in a bit more complicated style than the norm.I will try to add some more images.It appears that you have a good knowledge of Fijian.I have been told that most, if not all of their club styles derived from nature? Would you know the origins of the Totokia? I am going to try posting the smaller black earlier temple totokia,It retains 90+ percent of the original aha/sennit/magimagi fiber to the base of the handle,and has dried brain matter/blood to the head.Take Care

BANDOOK · 5th July 2013, 01:18 PM

I HAVE ONE OF THESE WHICH I BOUGHT IN A LOCAL AUCTION FEW YEARS BACK IN NEW ZEALND,WILL POST PICTURES SOON

VANDOO · 7th July 2013, 07:20 PM

THERE WAS AN UNUSUAL FORM OF CLUB ON EBAY QUITE A WHILE BACK IDENTIFIED AS FROM FIJI. THE FORM WAS SOMETHING I HAD NOT SEEN IN REFRENCES OR MUSEUMS. I BID BUT FAILED BUT KEPT THE PICTURES, I RECENTLY CAME ACROSS AN OLD PICTURE FROM A PUBLICATION IN 1904 SHOWING WHAT APPEARS TO BE THIS FORM OF FIJI CLUB. I DON'T HAVE THE SOFTWARE TO ZOOM IN,CROP OR ENHANCE PICTURES SO WHAT YOU SEE IS ALL I'VE GOT. THE WARRIOR IN FRONT ROW LEFT END HAS THE CLUB IN QUESTION. THE CLUB ON EBAY WAS NEXT TO A CLUB 36 INCHES LONG AND IS ABOUT THE SAME SIZE. PICTURE OF CLUB AND PIC. OF STRIKING END AND PICTURE OF CLUBS BY WALL. 1904 PICTURE FIJI . I HAD A PICTURE OF THE LARGE END OF THE CLUB BUT HAVE FAILED TO FIND IT SO FAR, WILL POST IF I FIND IT.

VANDOO · 11th July 2013, 11:26 PM

A MORE COMMON FORM IS THE ROOTSTOCK CLUB THEY SEEM TO FALL INTO TWO BASIC FORMS. 1. A SHORT LARGE HEAD WITH WELL TRIMED ROOTS RESEMBLING A FLANGED MACE. 2. A LONGER FORM OF HEAD THAT TAPERS TOWARD THE TIP. BOTH FORMS ARE LEFT WITH KNOBS FOR STRIKING AND SOME HAVE IVORY INLAYS. SOME OF THE LONGER HEADED FORMS MAY BE CARVED TO RESEMBLE A PIECE OF CHAIN OR WHAT LOOKS LIKE AN OCTOPUS TENTACLE, BUT WHEN THIS DONE ARE NO LONGER A ROOTSTOCK FORM. THESE CLUBS ARE USUALLY AROUND 3.5 TO 4 FEET LONG.

VANDOO · 19th July 2013, 03:05 PM

HERE IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE FORM OF CLUB CARVED FROM THE LONG FORM OF ROOTSTOCK. IN CLUNNIES BOOK IT IS ON PLATE 13 ITEM B ON PAGE 57, IT IS REFERRED TO AS VUNIKAU BULIBULI SEVARO. IT IS THE FORM I SAID LOOKED LIKE A CHAIN TO ME. THE CLUB IS 43.75 INCHES LONG 19TH CENTURY EXAMPLE

VANDOO · 19th July 2013, 05:56 PM

FIJI CLUB NAMED MADRALI AFTER THE LIMPET SHELL THAT THE CARVED KNOBS ON THE CLUB RESEMBLE. THIS EXAMPLE IS 38 INCHES MADE OF HEAVY HARD WOOD. SEE CLUNNIE PAGE 57 FIGURE 12 ITEM B. TWO PICTURES OF CLUB AND ONE OF LIVE LIMPET SHELLS.
A PICTURE OF VARIOUS FORMS OF FIJI CLUBS.
3 PICTURES OF WHAT WAS DESCRIBED AS A FIJI STINGRAY STAFF NOT SURE OF ORIGIN BUT THERE IS SOMETHING SIMULAR IN THE FIJI CLUB PLATE IT IS 54 INCHES LONG.

kahnjar1 · 19th July 2013, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VANDOO

THERE WAS AN UNUSUAL FORM OF CLUB ON EBAY QUITE A WHILE BACK IDENTIFIED AS FROM FIJI. THE FORM WAS SOMETHING I HAD NOT SEEN IN REFRENCES OR MUSEUMS. I BID BUT FAILED BUT KEPT THE PICTURES, I RECENTLY CAME ACROSS AN OLD PICTURE FROM A PUBLICATION IN 1904 SHOWING WHAT APPEARS TO BE THIS FORM OF FIJI CLUB. I DON'T HAVE THE SOFTWARE TO ZOOM IN,CROP OR ENHANCE PICTURES SO WHAT YOU SEE IS ALL I'VE GOT. THE WARRIOR IN FRONT ROW LEFT END HAS THE CLUB IN QUESTION. THE CLUB ON EBAY WAS NEXT TO A CLUB 36 INCHES LONG AND IS ABOUT THE SAME SIZE. PICTURE OF CLUB AND PIC. OF STRIKING END AND PICTURE OF CLUBS BY WALL. 1904 PICTURE FIJI . I HAD A PICTURE OF THE LARGE END OF THE CLUB BUT HAVE FAILED TO FIND IT SO FAR, WILL POST IF I FIND IT.

Hi Barry, The "club" leaning against the door looks more like a Maori Taiaha to me.............nothing to do with Fiji at all.
Stu

VANDOO · 19th July 2013, 10:09 PM

YOU ARE CORRECT THE TALL CLUB STANDING AGAINST THE WALL IS MAORI THE ONE ON THE FLOOR AND IN ANOTHER PICTURE ON THE TABLE IS THE ONE UNDER DISCUSSION. THE HANDLE END IS LARGER AND REMINDS ME OF AN ACORN IN SHAPE. THE STRIKEING END IS SHOWN IN ANOTHER PICTURE. THE CLUB IS ATYPICAL FOR FIJI AND DIFFERENT IN FORM FROM SIMULAR CLUBS IN OTHER AREAS. TO BE CLEAR THERE ARE NO ACORNS IN FIJI.

Albert · 19th July 2013, 10:15 PM

Just for sharing, a totokia in my collection.

Kinikini · 20th November 2014, 03:50 PM

Hi everyone, I have recently joined this forum in order to share pics of Fijian/Tongan clubs that iv'e collected over the past 30 years here in the UK. The first is a very interesting Totokia that has Musket/Pistol shot embedded in the shaft and traces of lead in other areas. The "beak" had previously had a native repair using a wooden dowel that is still in place. Most of the club appears to be stained with blood.The head is just over 5 inches wide and the club is 38 inches from top to bottom.

VANDOO · 20th November 2014, 05:07 PM

WELCOME TO THE FORUM ITS ALWAYS GOOD TO HAVE ANOTHER COLLECTOR OF CLUBS, ESPECIALLY ONE WHO JOINS IN AND POSTS PICTURES

THIS EARLY CLUB IS VERY INTERESTING AND PERHAPS UNIQUE AS I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANOTHER WITH LEAD SHOT INLAYED INTO IT. IT WAS NO DOUBT ADDED BY THE WARRIOR AS EITHER PROTECTION FROM THE ENEMYS STRANGE AND FRIGHTENING WEAPONS OR TO ADD SOME OF THE THUNDERSTICKS MAGIC TO THE CLUB?
I WONDER IF BLOOD WAS EVER ADDED INTENTIONALY TO CLUBS AS A FINISH OR OLD BLOOD AQUIRED IN BATTLE NEVER CLEANED OFF? EITHER WAY IT WOULD SOON AQUIRE AN UNPLESANT SMELL AND ATTRACT FLIES TO THE HUT. SUCH A CLUB COULD BE HUNG UP AND SMOKED TO CONTROL THAT IF DESIRED. (JUST MUSING AND CONJECTURE ON MY PART AS I HAVE NOT READ ANYTHING FACTUAL REGARDING THIS PRACTICE USED ON CLUBS) I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING SOME MORE OF YOUR INTERESTING CLUBS.
THANKS FOR POSTING AND ADDING VALUABLE INFORMATION TO THE REFRENCE.

9th February 2013, 12:55 AM	#1
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	MOST DESIRED OCEANIC WAR CLUBS 3: FIJI THE MOST RECOGNIZABLE AND DESIRABLE OF THE CLUBS FROM FIJI IS THE TOTOKIA, ALSO KNOWN AS THE PINNAPPLE CLUB OR BEAKED WAR HAMMER. THIS CLUB ACHIVED MORE WIDESPREAD FAME IN THE STAR WARS MOVIE, IT WAS REFERRED TO AS A GAFFI STICK AND WAS CARRIED BY THE SAND PEOPLE ALSO KNOWN AS TUSKAN RAIDERS. THE CLUB IS THOUGHT TO HAVE EVOLVED IN FIJI FROM THE EARLIER "I- TUKI" FORMS OF BATTLE HAMMER. THEY RESEMBLED THE TOTOKIA BUT EITHER LACKED THE SPIKE ENTIRELY OR HAD A VERY SHORT WIDE ONE. THESE WERE FAVORED BY CHIEFS AND FAMOUS WARRIORS AND OFTEN THE CLUB ITSELF ACHIVED FAME THRU ITS OWNERS EXPLOITS AND EARNED A NAME IT WAS USUALLY " THE PENIS OF SO AND SO" THESE CLUBS WERE OFTEN AMONG THE BURIAL GOODS OF IMPORTANT PEOPLE. THEY WERE MADE BY BENDING A SMALL TREE AND CAUSING THE BOTTOM PART NEAR THE ROOTS TO GROW THICK. WHEN THE TREE WAS THE PROPER SIZE IT WAS HARVESTED AND THE CLUB CARVED FROM THE ONE PIECE OF WOOD. THERE ARE A FEW RARE CLUBS WITH THE SPIKE MADE OUT OF SPERM WHALE TOOTH, THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN A HIGH PRESTIEGE ITEM. THESE CLUBS WERE FAST AND DID NOT REGUIRE A LARGE WINDUP OR SWING AND WERE LETHAL WITH A LOT LESS FORCE. THIS MADE THEM VERY GOOD FOR AMBUSH ALONG A TRAIL AS ONE QUICK SHORT STRIKE POKED A NEAT HOLE IN THE VICTUMS HEAD. THEY WERE GOOD FOR FIGHTING IN HEAVY BUSH AS A LARGE SWING AREA WAS NOT REQUIRED. THEY WERE JUST AS GOOD IN THE OPEN AND WERE A QUICK WAY OF FINISHING OFF WOUNDED OR OF EXECUTING CAPTIVES. THE SPIKE OR BEAK WAS CALLED "BATI-NI-SESE" IN SOME AREAS WHICH MENT TOOTH OR BEAK OF THE KINGFISHER. THERE WERE OTHER VARIATIONS IN DIFFERENT AREAS DUE TO DIFFERENT DIALECTS. MOST OF THIS INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND IN THE BOOK "FIJIAN WEAPONS & WARFARE, BY FERGUS CLUNIE, I HIGHLY RECOMEND IT FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN FIJI. HERE ARE SOME PICTURES MOST OF THESE CLUBS HAVE A ROUND HEAD BUT ONE PICTURE SHOWS AN OVAL FORM. SOME CLUBS HAVE CARVED DESIGNS ON THE GRIPS AND MANY DO NOT SOME MAY HAVE HAD FIBER WRAPS AS WELL BUT IT SEEMS TO BE VERY RARE. BUT FIBER WOULD NOT HAVE SURVIVED VERY LONG THIS IS TRUE ON OTHER CLUBS FROM FIJI AND ELSWHERE TOO. THE PICTURE OF TWO TOTOKIA AND SOME OTHER CLUBS HAS ONE WITH A WHALE IVORY BEAK. FOR AN IDEA OF SIZE RANGE THE ONE WITH THE OVAL HEAD IS 39.5INCHES LONG AND ONE OF THE OTHERS IS 31 INCHES LONG.THE TWO I HAVE ARE 29.5 IN. AND 30 IN. LONG. THEY CAN VARY IN MASS. THE OLDER ONES I HAVE SEEN ARE USUALLY HEAVIER WITH A LARGER HEAD AND SHAFT AND GRIP THAT IS CLOSE TO 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER. Attached Images Last edited by VANDOO; 9th February 2013 at 10:07 PM.

29th June 2013, 02:26 AM	#5
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	THIS CLUB FORM IS RARE AND EVEN FERGUS CLUNIE HAS NO NAME FOR IT ,THERE IS A PICTURE OF IT ON PLATE 4 ITEM G, TEXT ON PG 54. THERE ARE REPLICAS OF THIS CLUB WHICH ARE LESS RARE. I INCLUDE THIS HERE DUE TO ITS RARIETY NOT BECAUSE IT IS ONE OF THE MOST SOUGHT AFTER OF FIJI CLUBS. I CAN'T SAY IF THESE EXAMPLES ARE ORIGINALS OR REPLICAS BUT THE PICTURES WILL SHOW THE PROPER FORM. SIZE RANGE IS FROM 38INCHES TO 5 FOOT 11 INCHES LONG Attached Images

29th June 2013, 11:52 AM	#6
dolly-dagger Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 4	Totokia-Tuki Hi Vandoo, Thank you.Yes, the large Totokia does have some unusual design elements added to the face of the club.There is a similar example in an old Sotheby's catalogue that I have,as well as the one in the French publication of Fijian weapons,one in the group of the images that you posted regarding the Totokia History.This Totokia is a rather large example,with the diameter of the head 7-1/2 inches,and measures 6-1/2 inches from the back of the head to the end of the point.The carving to the handle is 9 inches,and the handle is 2 inches wide,and overall length is about 35 inches,and indeed carved in a bit more complicated style than the norm.I will try to add some more images.It appears that you have a good knowledge of Fijian.I have been told that most, if not all of their club styles derived from nature? Would you know the origins of the Totokia? I am going to try posting the smaller black earlier temple totokia,It retains 90+ percent of the original aha/sennit/magimagi fiber to the base of the handle,and has dried brain matter/blood to the head.Take Care Attached Images

5th July 2013, 01:18 PM	#7
BANDOOK Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: AUCKLAND,NEW ZEALAND Posts: 624	fiji club I HAVE ONE OF THESE WHICH I BOUGHT IN A LOCAL AUCTION FEW YEARS BACK IN NEW ZEALND,WILL POST PICTURES SOON

7th July 2013, 07:20 PM	#8
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	THERE WAS AN UNUSUAL FORM OF CLUB ON EBAY QUITE A WHILE BACK IDENTIFIED AS FROM FIJI. THE FORM WAS SOMETHING I HAD NOT SEEN IN REFRENCES OR MUSEUMS. I BID BUT FAILED BUT KEPT THE PICTURES, I RECENTLY CAME ACROSS AN OLD PICTURE FROM A PUBLICATION IN 1904 SHOWING WHAT APPEARS TO BE THIS FORM OF FIJI CLUB. I DON'T HAVE THE SOFTWARE TO ZOOM IN,CROP OR ENHANCE PICTURES SO WHAT YOU SEE IS ALL I'VE GOT. THE WARRIOR IN FRONT ROW LEFT END HAS THE CLUB IN QUESTION. THE CLUB ON EBAY WAS NEXT TO A CLUB 36 INCHES LONG AND IS ABOUT THE SAME SIZE. PICTURE OF CLUB AND PIC. OF STRIKING END AND PICTURE OF CLUBS BY WALL. 1904 PICTURE FIJI . I HAD A PICTURE OF THE LARGE END OF THE CLUB BUT HAVE FAILED TO FIND IT SO FAR, WILL POST IF I FIND IT. Attached Images Last edited by Andrew; 20th November 2014 at 02:15 PM. Reason: addition of butt-end photo at Vandoo's request

9th February 2013, 01:57 AM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,225	I wonder how the heck you fight with these? Great carvings though.........

9th February 2013, 03:26 AM	#3
T. Koch Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Mother North Posts: 189	Wooo, I am so very excited to see another installment in your "Most Desired..."-series, Vandoo! I hope this one grows with time too. Battara, don't you think that you just indescriminately smash up whatever is in front of you? I'd hate to stand in the way of the guy in the top pic, I mean just look at the size of that thing!! Totokias are just awesome! I wasn't aware that they were also made from training down a tree like that, I thought it was a solely a kiakavo-thing. Thanks for the info and the great pics - I'm looking forward to see were this goes! Saludos, - Thor

9th February 2013, 03:46 AM	#4
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	THE CLUB WOULD BE KEPT IN A HIGH GAURD POSITION CLOSE IN TO THE BODY. STRIKES WOULD BE SHORT USING THE POINT WHICH WOULD PENETRATE FLESH AS WELL AS BONE. ONE GOOD HIT TO THE SKULL WOULD LIKELY END THE FIGHT. THE FIJI CLUB FIGHTING INVOLVED A LOT OF JUMPING ABOUT AND FIENTS WERE MADE. BLOCKING WAS ALSO POSSIBLE USING THE SHAFT OR CROOKED PART BY THE HEAD BUT YA HAD TO BE CAREFUL NOT TO GET YOUR FINGERS IN IT. FROM AMBUSH THE TECKNIQUE WAS MUCH EASIER AND MORE SURE AS IT WAS OFTEN USED ON LONE INDIVIDUALS FOR THE PURPOSE OF GETTING DINNER.

11th July 2013, 11:26 PM	#9
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	A MORE COMMON FORM IS THE ROOTSTOCK CLUB THEY SEEM TO FALL INTO TWO BASIC FORMS. 1. A SHORT LARGE HEAD WITH WELL TRIMED ROOTS RESEMBLING A FLANGED MACE. 2. A LONGER FORM OF HEAD THAT TAPERS TOWARD THE TIP. BOTH FORMS ARE LEFT WITH KNOBS FOR STRIKING AND SOME HAVE IVORY INLAYS. SOME OF THE LONGER HEADED FORMS MAY BE CARVED TO RESEMBLE A PIECE OF CHAIN OR WHAT LOOKS LIKE AN OCTOPUS TENTACLE, BUT WHEN THIS DONE ARE NO LONGER A ROOTSTOCK FORM. THESE CLUBS ARE USUALLY AROUND 3.5 TO 4 FEET LONG. Attached Images

19th July 2013, 03:05 PM	#10
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	HERE IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE FORM OF CLUB CARVED FROM THE LONG FORM OF ROOTSTOCK. IN CLUNNIES BOOK IT IS ON PLATE 13 ITEM B ON PAGE 57, IT IS REFERRED TO AS VUNIKAU BULIBULI SEVARO. IT IS THE FORM I SAID LOOKED LIKE A CHAIN TO ME. THE CLUB IS 43.75 INCHES LONG 19TH CENTURY EXAMPLE Attached Images

19th July 2013, 05:56 PM	#11
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	FIJI CLUB NAMED MADRALI AFTER THE LIMPET SHELL THAT THE CARVED KNOBS ON THE CLUB RESEMBLE. THIS EXAMPLE IS 38 INCHES MADE OF HEAVY HARD WOOD. SEE CLUNNIE PAGE 57 FIGURE 12 ITEM B. TWO PICTURES OF CLUB AND ONE OF LIVE LIMPET SHELLS. A PICTURE OF VARIOUS FORMS OF FIJI CLUBS. 3 PICTURES OF WHAT WAS DESCRIBED AS A FIJI STINGRAY STAFF NOT SURE OF ORIGIN BUT THERE IS SOMETHING SIMULAR IN THE FIJI CLUB PLATE IT IS 54 INCHES LONG. Attached Images Last edited by VANDOO; 19th July 2013 at 07:59 PM.

19th July 2013, 10:09 PM	#13
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	YOU ARE CORRECT THE TALL CLUB STANDING AGAINST THE WALL IS MAORI THE ONE ON THE FLOOR AND IN ANOTHER PICTURE ON THE TABLE IS THE ONE UNDER DISCUSSION. THE HANDLE END IS LARGER AND REMINDS ME OF AN ACORN IN SHAPE. THE STRIKEING END IS SHOWN IN ANOTHER PICTURE. THE CLUB IS ATYPICAL FOR FIJI AND DIFFERENT IN FORM FROM SIMULAR CLUBS IN OTHER AREAS. TO BE CLEAR THERE ARE NO ACORNS IN FIJI.

19th July 2013, 10:15 PM	#14
Albert Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 194	Totokia Just for sharing, a totokia in my collection. Attached Images

20th November 2014, 03:50 PM	#15
Kinikini Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Posts: 18	Interesting Totokia Hi everyone, I have recently joined this forum in order to share pics of Fijian/Tongan clubs that iv'e collected over the past 30 years here in the UK. The first is a very interesting Totokia that has Musket/Pistol shot embedded in the shaft and traces of lead in other areas. The "beak" had previously had a native repair using a wooden dowel that is still in place. Most of the club appears to be stained with blood.The head is just over 5 inches wide and the club is 38 inches from top to bottom. Attached Images

20th November 2014, 05:07 PM	#16
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	WELCOME TO THE FORUM ITS ALWAYS GOOD TO HAVE ANOTHER COLLECTOR OF CLUBS, ESPECIALLY ONE WHO JOINS IN AND POSTS PICTURES THIS EARLY CLUB IS VERY INTERESTING AND PERHAPS UNIQUE AS I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANOTHER WITH LEAD SHOT INLAYED INTO IT. IT WAS NO DOUBT ADDED BY THE WARRIOR AS EITHER PROTECTION FROM THE ENEMYS STRANGE AND FRIGHTENING WEAPONS OR TO ADD SOME OF THE THUNDERSTICKS MAGIC TO THE CLUB? I WONDER IF BLOOD WAS EVER ADDED INTENTIONALY TO CLUBS AS A FINISH OR OLD BLOOD AQUIRED IN BATTLE NEVER CLEANED OFF? EITHER WAY IT WOULD SOON AQUIRE AN UNPLESANT SMELL AND ATTRACT FLIES TO THE HUT. SUCH A CLUB COULD BE HUNG UP AND SMOKED TO CONTROL THAT IF DESIRED. (JUST MUSING AND CONJECTURE ON MY PART AS I HAVE NOT READ ANYTHING FACTUAL REGARDING THIS PRACTICE USED ON CLUBS) I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING SOME MORE OF YOUR INTERESTING CLUBS. THANKS FOR POSTING AND ADDING VALUABLE INFORMATION TO THE REFRENCE.