MOST DESIRED OCEANIC WAR CLUBS 3: FIJI

[VANDOO]

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]

I wonder how the heck you fight with these?

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

[T. Koch]

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]

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]

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]

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

[VANDOO]

THE OLDER ONE OF YOUR FIJI CLUBS IS NOT AS IMPRESSIVE TO LOOK AT AS THE LARGE ONE BUT IS MORE RARE ESPECIALLY WITH THE INTACT FIBER BINDING AND TRACES OF USE, BOTH ARE EXCEPTIONAL EXAMPLES.
CLUNIE POINTS OUT THAT THE PINEAPPLE WAS UNKNOWN IN FIJI WHEN THIS CLUB DESIGN FIRST OCCURED. I THINK HE IS CORRECT IN ASSUMING THE DESIGN WAS INSPIRED BY THE PANDANUS TREE FRUIT. THE TREE WAS USED FOR MANY THINGS NOTABLY LEAVES FOR WEAVING MATS, HATS BASKETS ECT. THE FRUIT HAS A DECENT TASTE BUT IS FIBROUS WITH LITTLE MEAT THE DRIED FIBEROUS SEEDS WERE OFTEN USED AS PAINT BRUSHES FOR PAINTING TAPA DESIGNS.
THE BASE OF THE TRUNK HAS MULTIPLE ROOTS AND MAY HAVE INSPIRED OR BEEN USED TO MAKE A FIJI CLUB CALLED BULIBULI. IT IS A LESS SEEN FORM BUT REMINDS ME OF THE PANDANUS ROOT BALL WHEN WORKED DOWN. THE BULIBULI RANGES IN SIZE UP TO 65 CM. LONG OR LESS. HERE ARE PICTURES OF A PANDANUS FRUIT AND ROOTS AS WELL AS SEVERAL EXAMPLES OF THE FIJI BULIBULI CLUBS. THERE ARE OTHER CLUBS IN SOME PICTURES WHICH GIVE GOOD SIZE INDICATIONS. THERE ARE TWO PICTURES OF A KUKU CLUB FROM NEW GUINEA WHICH MAY BE INFLUENCED BY THE PANDANUS AS WELL.

[BANDOOK]

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

[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.

[VANDOO]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

Just for sharing, a totokia in my collection.

[VANDOO]

A NICE LOOKING CLUB WITH WHAT APPEARS TO BE A VERY LONG SPIKE WITH A NICE THICKENED POINT. WHAT ARE ITS MEASUREMENTS?

[KraVseR]

Thank you! Are you want to tell about other weapons of Oceania? Samoa, Hawaii, Easter Island? Very interesting!

[VANDOO]

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ight=marquesas
HERE IS A URL FOR THE FIRST POST IN A SERIES OF 3 ON CLUBS THERE IS ONE ON THE COOK ISLANDS AS WELL. I WILL ADD TO THESE POSTS AND CREATE ONES ON OTHER AREAS AS I FIND TIME. I AM GLAD TO SEE THERE IS INTREST IN SUCH POSTS AS THERE ARE MANY VIEWS BUT FEW POSTS OR ITEMS ADDED BY OTHERS, I ALWAYS ENJOY ANYONE ADDING EXAMPLES FROM THEIR COLLECTIONS OR FURTHER INFORMATION OR CORRECTIONS WHEN I GO WRONG.
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...t=COOK+ISLANDS
HERE IS THE URL FOR THE OTHER ONE.

[KraVseR]

Thank you, I've seen them.
I'm interested, there will be 4 Part?

[VANDOO]

STILL WORKING MY WAY THRU FIJI CLUBS CULACULA CLUB FORM. THE WORD MEANS CRAB IN FIJI. WITH IMAGINATION THE TWO SIDE SPIKES AND WIDE BODY RESEMBLE THE CRABS CARAPACE. THESE CLUBS WERE USED WITH THE SHARP EDGE TO STRIKE NOT THE FLAT. THE FLAT COULD BE USED TO DEFLECT OR SORT OF AS A SMALL SHIELD. THE CLUB DELIVERED A STRIKE LIKE AN AX AND WOULD EASILY BREAK BONES AND COULD SPLIT FLESH. THIS FORM WAS FOUND ON TONGA AND SAMOA AS WELL AND LIKELY IN OTHER AREAS OF OCEANA. SEE CLUNNIES FIG.7 PAGE 55 FOR EXAMPLES AND INFORMATION.
A SIMULAR FORM WAS REFERED TO AS KINIKINI INFORMATION ON THESE IS FOUND IN CLUNNIE ON FIG 8 PAGE 56. THE LARGER FANCY CARVED EXAMPLES ARE LIKELY CHIEFS CLUBS. IF SOMEONE HAS A SCANNER PERHAPS THESE TWO PLATES CAN BE ADDED TO THIS POST.
I HAVE TAKEN THE LIBERTY OF ADDING ONE PICTURE OF ANOTHER MEMBERS FIJI CLUBS WHICH INCLUDES TWO EXAMPLES OF THIS FORM THE LARGE CHIEFS ONE IS 51 INCHES.MOST THAT I HAVE ARE AROUND 91 CM LONG I WILL TRY TO TAKE PICTURES OF THEM LATER.

[Albert]

Originally Posted by VANDOO

A NICE LOOKING CLUB WITH WHAT APPEARS TO BE A VERY LONG SPIKE WITH A NICE THICKENED POINT. WHAT ARE ITS MEASUREMENTS?

The total length is 76.5 cm, the length of the spike is approximately 10 cm (depending on where you measure it), and the diameter of the handle is 3.5 cm.

[VANDOO]

HERE ARE MY 5 EXAMPLES OF THE CULACULA FORM OF CLUB. THREE HAVE THE FLARED FLAT BUTT END FOUND ON CLUBS WITH TONGAN INFLUENCES NONE HAVE THE SMALL LUG WITH A HOLE FOUND ON OLDER EXAMPLES I SUSPECT THESE ARE FROM THE 1960'S OR LATER CARVED IN FIJI. THE TWO OLDER EXAMPLES HAVE THE PHALLIC END WHICH I BELEAVE TO BE THE OLDER FORM. THE SMALLEST EXAMPLE IS 32.5 IN. LONG AND IS THE OLDEST PERHAPS 1920'S OR OLDER AND APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN MADE WITH PRIMATIVE TOOLS. THE LARGEST ONE IS 44 IN. LONG AND LIKELY FROM THE 1930'S TO 1950'S. THE LARGE ONE CAME OFF THE WALLS OF A OLD TIKI BAR FROM THE 1930'S TO 1950'S NOW LONG GONE.

3 PICTURES OF A RECENTLY MADE FIJI CLUB WITH FIBER WRAP 28IN. X 8 INCHES.

[VANDOO]

A RARE CLUB FOUND IN CLUNIE'S BOOK ON PLATE 13 FIGURE E DESCRIBED ON PAGE 57 AS."Soke-mantau the knobby axe or knobby club ". THIS IS THE FORM I THINK LOOKS LIKE AN OCTOPUS TENTACLE WITH SUCTION CUPS. I HAVE AN EXAMPLE CARVED IN FIIJI CIRC 1960.

[VANDOO]

THE CLUB REFERED TO AS THE GUGU OR TIVITIVI IS THOUGHT TO HAVE BEEN FOR CEREMONIAL USE NOT WAR. MOST ARE THOUGHT TO HAVE ORIGINATED IN THE INTERIOR OF VIVI LEVU AND HAVE TONGAN INFLUENCE AS MANY LIVED IN THE REGION BUT MAY HAVE BEEN MORE WIDE SPREAD.
SOMETIMES CALLED LOTUS CLUBS OR AX BIT CLUBS THEY ACTUALLY REPRESENT THE BUTTERFLY FISH. BUTTERFLY FISH ARE REFERED TO AS GUGU OR TIVITIVI AND TRADE HATCHETS WERE SOMETIMES REFERRED TO AS TIVITIVI DUE TO THE WAY THE AX HEAD IS MOUNTED ON THE SHAFT AT A DIFFERENT ANGLE TO THE BLADE OF AN ADZ.
THERE IS THOUGHT TO BE TWO BASIC FORMS OF THIS CLUB.
1. A PLAIN LIGHT FORM WITH AN OVAL HANDLE AND OFTEN A HOLE IS DRILLED JUST BELOW THE HEAD.
2. A HEAVIER ORNATELY CARVED ONE WITH A ROUND HANDLE AND SOMETIMES HUMAN OR OTHER FIGURES CARVED IN THE DECORATIONS IN TONGAN DESIGN.
THIS INFORMATION AND MORE CAN BE FOUND IN CLUNIE ON PAGE 54 WITH DRAWINGS OF VARIOUS EXAMPLES OF THE CLUBS ON FIG. 4

THE FIRST TWO PICTURES ARE OF A RATHER CRUDELY CARVED SMALL 27 INCH EXAMPLE IT DOSEN'T LOOK LIKE A REPLICA FOR TOURISTS AND SHOWS SOME AGE AND WEAR SO MAY BE FOR USE OR JUST SOMEONE PRACTICING CARVING ONE? IT WILL BE THE SHORT CLUB PICTURED WITH MY OTHER 2 EXAMPLES. SORRY ABOUT PICTURE QUALITY NO GOOD SUN HERE TODAY. THE LAST PICTURES ARE OF MY 3 CLUBS THE SHORT ONE MENTIONED ABOVE THE MIDDLE SIZE APPEARS TO BE THE TYPE 1 MENTIONED BY CLUNIE THE LARGE ONE IS THE HEAVY FULLY CARVED TYPE 2 FORM. MIDDLE SIZE CLUB 33INCHES, LARGE CLUB 41.5 INCHES.

[KraVseR]

Thank you!
What is the length of these clubs?

[VANDOO]

MY LONGEST CLUB IS 41.5 INCHES LONG AND HAS THE HUMAN FIGURE AND IS FULLY CARVED. IN CLUNIES BOOK IT SHOWS A SIMULAR TYPE TWO CLUB WHICH IS ALSO LONGER THAN THE THREE TYPE ONE CLUBS REPRESENTED ON THE SAME PLATE. THE SHORTER TYPE 1 FORM IS 33 INCHES LONG SO I AM ASSUMING THAT TO BE THE GENERAL SIZE RANGE FOR THIS FORM.
MOST ALL OF MY INFORMATION COMES FROM BOOKS NOTABLY CLUNIE'S BOOK ON FIJI WEAPONS. THE ONLY GOOD REASON I CAN THINK OF TO MAKE A REFRENCE POST LIKE THIS AND MY OTHERS IS THAT I AND OTHERS CAN ADD PICTURES OF A VARIETY OF THESE FORMS OF CLUB AND ANY OTHER INFORMATION THEY MAY HAVE. CLUNIE'S BOOK HAS DRAWINGS SO ITS NICE TO HAVE A REFRENCE WITH PICTURES OF THE ACTUAL CLUBS AND EVEN NEWER REPLICAS ADD TO THE INFORMATION. HERE IS A PICTURE OF ANOTHER EXAMPLE

[VANDOO]

HERE ARE A FEW MORE EXAMPLES OF THE CULACULA FORM OF CLUB FROM A PREVIOUS SECTION TO ADD TO THE REFRENCE.

[VANDOO]

THIS IS THE LAST OF THE CULACULA FORM CLUBS THAT I CURRENTLY HAVE PICTURES OF. THE PICTURES I HAVE POSTED ON THIS CLUB FORM SO FAR SHOW A GOOD REPRESENITIVE VARIETY OF OLD AS WELL AS REPLICA CLUBS.
THE CLUB IN THE LAST PICTURE IS 111CM. LONG

[KraVseR]

And that a musket in the fourth picture?
Fijians used a firearm or not?

[CharlesS]

Vandoo,

This is a area I know absolutely nothing about, and just wanted to tell you how much I have enjoyed this thread, the excellent pics of pieces, and the historical photos.

Bully for you!