Interesting Totokia

[fernando]

Originally Posted by LJ

... However, in my prosaic imagination I imagine somebody firing the balls at a club that was laid down or propped against a wall (rather than fending them off in a fight). There could be reasons to do this other than mere vandalism: to show how the old technology could be "stronger" than the new for instance or in some way to reinforce the mana of the club.

Not so prosaic imagination; makes a lot of sense ... to me, for one !

[Kinikini]

Originally Posted by fernando

Not so prosaic imagination; makes a lot of sense ... to me, for one !

I am lost for word's are you imagining a BATTLE involving dozens of muskets being fired over a period of day's, week's, or even month's where all the clubs had the Magical ability to survive without getting hit by flying lead? Or that the Musketeer's only hit the enemy whilst avoiding the club's on purpose for some reason ?
I would argue that there must have been many that were hit, laying around after most Battles amongst the dead, wounded and their blood waiting to be taken as trophies.
As for the theory about the club being used for target practice......If I were using it for that purpose the first thing I would aim at would be the Head of the club not the shaft........the head of this club has No signs of a direct hit although the beak area seems to have a grey residue around the area it's been broken off so maybe it caught one on the beak. ?
In a situation where the trophy hunter would have had a selection of club's to choose from, why on earth would he have chosen a club that's been used for target practice over the "genuine" trophies of war available ??? Regards K

[Kinikini]

Originally Posted by fernando

Not so prosaic imagination; makes a lot of sense ... to me, for one !

I too doubt that any Warrior could have been so skilled or stupid to rely on a 2 inch wide "stick" to shield himself from Musket balls.
I also find it illogical that the club could have been fired at in order to either demonstrate the strength of the club/wood or the power of a Musket or to reinforce the Mana by almost blowing it in half......i'm sure this would have pissed the God's and the club's proud owner right off !!! I presume, that like the battle fields of WW1 there must have been lot's of examples of "bullet's" embedded in the trees around Fijian battle sites that displayed the power of a musket and the density of the wood.. demonstrating the power of the Musket or the club would have been very straight forward........Just go pick a fight with someone...and win !!! All the best K

[Kinikini]

Originally Posted by fernando

Not so prosaic imagination; makes a lot of sense ... to me, for one !

Hello again..........Sometime ago I remember reading an old account in which it stated that when the enemy/natives were grouped together and ready to charge, they would be led by the Chief who stood out amongst the others because he was the one armed with a Totokia rather than a club of lower status like the others, and this made him the prime target to aim for, because, if he were killed all the others would cease fighting and retire from the battle due to the loss of their leader.
Now please don't get me wrong, I am not claiming that this IS what happened to the club but you have to admit. it's possible......? All the best K