Fijian throwing club "ula"

Tim Simmons · 30th May 2013, 09:21 PM

Lately I have wondered whether these are more of a dress item, rather like those ubiquitous Arab daggers wore across the stomach. The common availability the frequent lightness and also often far to heavy to be an effective weapon could suggest so. Like knob sticks in Africa ever present?

VANDOO · 31st May 2013, 05:17 AM

THERE ARE QUITE A FEW ACCOUNTS OF THESE CLUBS BEING USED IN WARFARE AND LIKE THE ACCOUNTS OF THE USE OF THE THROWING CLUBS BY THE ZULU ARE SAID TO HAVE BEEN VERY EFFECTIVE. THE THROWING CLUB IS STILL CARRIED IN AFRICA TODAY AND IS USED EFFECTIVELY TO BAG THE OCCASIONAL CRITTER FOR THE POT AND AT TIMES TO SETTLE DISPUTES. EVEN THE OLD LADIES AND KIDS OFTEN HAVE ONE.
YOUR EXAMPLE SHOWS TONGAN INFLUENCE BECAUSE OF THE UNUSUAL CARVING ON YOUR SECOND PICTURE IT APPEARS TO BE A FIGURE INSET IN THE COMMON CARVED PATTERN. THE TONGAN EMPIRE'S INFLUENCE STARTED IN THE 10 CENTURY AND STARTED TO DECLINE IN THE 13 TH. CENTURY, THE INFLUENCE CONTINUED AS TONGANS CONTINUED TO LIVE IN FIJI. FROM THE PICTURES YOUR EXAMPLE LOOKS PRE-CONTACT OR NO NEWER THAN 19TH CENTURY. (NICE ONE)
THE EXAMPLES IN MY COLLECTION COME IN SEVERAL FORMS AND GO FROM 21 CENTURY TO PRE-CONTACT EXAMPLES. THE OLD ONES ARE HEAVY AND HARD WOODS AND BALANCED FOR THROWING. SOME OF THE MORE RECENT ARE FANCY AND MORE ARTISTIC BUT DON'T HAVE THE FEEL OF A GOOD THROWING CLUB. I SUPPOSE THESE LATER ONES MAY HAVE BEEN WORN FOR STATUS, PRESENTATION OR USED IN CEREMONIES OR SHOWS OR JUST TO SELL.

30th May 2013, 09:21 PM	#1
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,843	Lately I have wondered whether these are more of a dress item, rather like those ubiquitous Arab daggers wore across the stomach. The common availability the frequent lightness and also often far to heavy to be an effective weapon could suggest so. Like knob sticks in Africa ever present?

31st May 2013, 05:17 AM	#2
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	THERE ARE QUITE A FEW ACCOUNTS OF THESE CLUBS BEING USED IN WARFARE AND LIKE THE ACCOUNTS OF THE USE OF THE THROWING CLUBS BY THE ZULU ARE SAID TO HAVE BEEN VERY EFFECTIVE. THE THROWING CLUB IS STILL CARRIED IN AFRICA TODAY AND IS USED EFFECTIVELY TO BAG THE OCCASIONAL CRITTER FOR THE POT AND AT TIMES TO SETTLE DISPUTES. EVEN THE OLD LADIES AND KIDS OFTEN HAVE ONE. YOUR EXAMPLE SHOWS TONGAN INFLUENCE BECAUSE OF THE UNUSUAL CARVING ON YOUR SECOND PICTURE IT APPEARS TO BE A FIGURE INSET IN THE COMMON CARVED PATTERN. THE TONGAN EMPIRE'S INFLUENCE STARTED IN THE 10 CENTURY AND STARTED TO DECLINE IN THE 13 TH. CENTURY, THE INFLUENCE CONTINUED AS TONGANS CONTINUED TO LIVE IN FIJI. FROM THE PICTURES YOUR EXAMPLE LOOKS PRE-CONTACT OR NO NEWER THAN 19TH CENTURY. (NICE ONE) THE EXAMPLES IN MY COLLECTION COME IN SEVERAL FORMS AND GO FROM 21 CENTURY TO PRE-CONTACT EXAMPLES. THE OLD ONES ARE HEAVY AND HARD WOODS AND BALANCED FOR THROWING. SOME OF THE MORE RECENT ARE FANCY AND MORE ARTISTIC BUT DON'T HAVE THE FEEL OF A GOOD THROWING CLUB. I SUPPOSE THESE LATER ONES MAY HAVE BEEN WORN FOR STATUS, PRESENTATION OR USED IN CEREMONIES OR SHOWS OR JUST TO SELL.