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" :D 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.

I wonder how the heck you fight with these? :confused:

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

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? :D 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

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.

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

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

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. :D
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.

fiji club
 

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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. :)

Totokia
 

Just for sharing, a totokia in my collection. :)

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Thank you!
What is the length of these clubs?

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

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

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

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

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!

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. ;)

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.

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

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 .

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.

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.

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.

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. :rolleyes:
THREE PICTURES TOWARD THE END ARE OF ONE EXAMPLE OF A VERY GOOD TONGAN CARVED GATA CLUB.

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.

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 :eek: