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" :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.

[Battara]

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

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? :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

[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. :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.

[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]

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/showthread.php?t=15945&highlight=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/showthread.php?t=16017&highlight=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]

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!

[VANDOO]

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. ;)

[VANDOO]

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.

[KraVseR]

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

[VANDOO]

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 .

[VANDOO]

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.

[VANDOO]

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.

[VANDOO]

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.

[VANDOO]

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.

[VANDOO]

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.

[VANDOO]

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:

[VANDOO]

1. THIS IS AN UNUSUAL FORM 28 INCHES LONG FIRST 3 PICTURES. AN EXAMPLE IS IN CLUNIES PLATE 12 ITEM G, REFERRED TO AS " VUNIKAU I DO NOT KNOW THE SPECIFIC NAME OF THE VUNIKAU OR " TREE ROOT" CLUB. THERE IS A EXAMPLE IN THE FIJI MUSEUM COLLECTION BUT EVIDENTLY NOT MUCH INFORMATION ON IT OTHER THAN THE QUOTE ABOVE AND THE DRAWING.

2. THIS IS ANOTHER SELDOM SEEN FORM THE CLOSEST TO IT IN CLUNIES BOOK IS PLATE 3 DRAWING B.IDENTIFIED AS TAVO, A RARE TYPE OF GATA TYPE WITH NO SPUR. THIS EXAMPLE IS 93 CM. LONG WITH NO CARVED DECORATION. IT FUNCTIONS IN BATTLE LIKE A GATA OR SALI BUT HAS NO SPIKE.

3.THIS IS A SAWED OFF FIJI CLUB OF A FORM SEEN ON PLATE 9 FIG.E. SAID TO BE A FORM INTRODUCED FROM TONGA.

[VANDOO]

THESE FORMS OF CLUB SEEM TO BE TONGAN BUT DUE TO THE PRESENCE OF TONGAN SETTLEMENTS IN FIJI ARE TO BE FOUND IN CLUNIES BOOK THE DRAWINGS ARE TO BE FOUND ON PLATE 9. WITH TEXT ON PAGE 56.
PICTURES 1 AND 2 OF A CLUB WITH A BROAD FAN SHAPED HEAD PERHAPS CALLED A DUI. THE CLUB IS 28INCHES LONG.
PICTURES 3 & 4 TWO DIFFERENT FORMS OF THE TYPE.
ONE PICTURE OF AN UNUSUAL LONG FORM SAID TO BE FROM FIJI BUT NO REFERENCE OTHER THAN SALE INFO.
SEVERAL PICTURES OF THE SQUARE ENDED TONGAN FORM RANGEING FROM 31 TO 32 INCHES LONG. NO INFORMATION IN CLUNIES BOOK OTHER THAN TONGAN.

[VANDOO]

CONTINUING THE TONGAN FORMS OF FIJI CLUBS SEEN ON PLATE 9 CLUNIES BOOK.
#1 THRU 4. A FAN SHAPED EXAMPLE, 78 X 17 CM. LONG, NOTE CARVING DESIGN IS TAVATAVA DESIGN
#5 THRU 8. MORE EXAMPLES OF THE SQUARE ENDED FORM MANY WITH TONGAN FULLY CARVED DESIGNS. NOTE PICTURE 5 ITEM AIM14702 HAS TAVATAVA DESIGN
#9 THRU 12. TONGAN FORM 1900, THREE FEET LONG, THIS EXAMPLE HAS TAVATAVA DESIGN CARVING.

THE LUG ON THE BUTT OF THESE CLUBS SOMETIMES WITH A HOLE FOR A CORD IS A TONGAN FEATURE BROUGHT TO FIJI.

[VANDOO]

POLE CLUBS,
FIJI HAD TWO BASIC VARIETYS OF FIGHTING CLUBS THE STRAIGHT ONES SOMETIMES CALLED GADI BECAUSE THEY WERE OFTEN MADE OF GADI WOOD BUT THE WOOD WAS ALSO USED ON OTHER TYPES OF CLUBS AS WELL. :shrug:
GADI, THIS WAS A STRAIGHT POLE NOT FLARED AT EITHER END THOUGH SOMETIMES TAPERING TO A SMALLER GRIP. THE GRIP IS OFTEN THE ONLY PART OF THE CLUB WITH CARVING WHICH IS USUALLY OF THE TAVA TAVA STYLE WHICH SEEMS TO BE THE MOST PREVELANT DECORATIVE DESIGN IN FIJI CLUBS. SOME OF THESE CLUBS HAVE A ROUNDED STRIKING END AND SOME HAVE A FLAT ONE. THE BUTT OF THE CLUB IS USUALLY FLAT OR SOMETIMES HAS A CONCAVE HOLE , SOME WITH INLAY.
THE OTHER FORM IS MORE LIKE A BASEBALL BAT WITH A LARGER STRIKING END AND FLAREING OUT AT THE SMALLER BUTT END BELOW THE GRIP. THIS WAS CALLED A BOWAI AOI AND WAS THOUGHT TO HAVE ORIGINATED ON TONGA WHERE IT WAS CALLED POVAI. IT WAS WIDELY USED IN FIJI AND THE FAVORITE CLUB OF RATU SERU CAKOBAU . HIS CLUB WAS MADE INTO THE MACE OF THE FIJI HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. OFTEN BOTH FORMS OF POLE CLUBS ARE CALLED BOWAI BUT THERE IS A DIFFERENCE. BOTH TYPES OF CLUBS WERE OVER 100 CM. LONG. SEPARATING THEM FROM THE SHORTER CUDGLES OF SIMULAR FORM. THE FULLY CARVED POLE CLUBS WERE USUALLY TONGAN EITHER FROM TONGA OR MADE BY TONGANS IN FIJI OR SAMOA OR WHERE EVER THEY MIGHT BE. THE FIJIANS LIKED TO INLAY IVORY IN THEIR CLUBS EITHER MARINE IVORY (WHALE, ECT) OR HUMAN IVORY TEETH.
PICTURES
1. AN EXAMPLE OF TAVA TAVA DESIGN, ON A PRE 1850 CLUB BUTT.
2. 3. & 4 A BOWAI ,FULLY CARVED IN TAVA TAVA DESIGN 32 INCHES LONG AND END 7 INCHES IN CIRCUMFRENCE
5. FULLY CARVED BOWAI WITH ANOTHER FORM OF FIJI CLUB.
6 &7 CLOSER TO A GADI FORM THAN A BOWAI WITH A INTERESTING DESIGN ON THE CLUBS BUTT AND A ROUNDED TOP. 50.5 INCHES LONG
8, 9.&10 CARVING DETAIL TAVA TAVA ON POLE CLUB BUTTS
11. ROUNDED STRIKING HEAD OF BOWAI , TAVA TAVA DESIGN
12 CONCAVE BUTT END OF A PLAIN GADI CLUB

[VANDOO]

A FEW MORE EXAMPLES MOSTLY BOWAI. THERE IS ONE PICTURE OF A GADI STRIKING END WITH IVORY INLAYS AND PICTURE 1 AND 4 THE ROUNDED END AND CARVED BUTT END OF A PLAIN GADI, THE OTHERS ARE BOWAI. ONE BOWAI HAS A MARINE IVORY ROUND INLAY SET IN THE BUTT OF THE CLUB. THE LAST TWO PICTURES ARE OF THE MACE OF THE FIJI HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES THAT WAS MENTIONED IN THE ABOVE POST.

[VANDOO]

I AM FINALLY COMING TO THE END OF FIJI LONG CLUBS AND HAVE ADDED FIJI AXES AND THEN SOME OLD PICTURES OF VARIOUS CLUB FORMS.
PICTURES
1&2. FIJI TAVO A RARE TYPE OF GATA OR SALI WITH NO SPUR OR METO. 40 INCHES LONG SEE CLUNIE PLATE 3 FIG.B , TEXT ON PAGE 53
3. UNUSUAL FORM OF GATA
4. & 5. TWO NEWLY MADE KINIKINI /CULACULA FORM OF CLUB CIRC 1960'S OR LATER.
6 & 7. ALL WOOD FIJI AX PICTURE OF TAVATAVA DESIGN ON GRIP AND AX PIC.
8. OLD PICTURE FIJI FIGHTING AXES
9. 1840 PRINT OF FIJI ITEMS
10. 1910 BOOK, PLATE FIJI WEAPONS
11. 1917 BOOK, FIJI WEAPONS PLATE
12. FIJI CLUBS VARIOUS FORMS.

[VANDOO]

PICTURES
1,2 & 3. TWO OLD PRE-CONTACT GADI POLE CLUBS. BOTH FROM MUSEUM DEACESSIONS THRU BIG AUCTION COMPANYS. #1. EXTRA LARGE EXAMPLE WITH IVORY INLAY IN BUTT OF CLUB, 44.5INCHES LONG, 2.25IN. IN DIAMETER. #2. SMALLER CLUB WITH GOOD PATINA 41 INCHES LONG, 1.5 INCHES IN DIAMETER.
4, 5 & 6. GOOD OLD PRE-CONTACT ROOTSTOCK CLUB 44 INCHES LONG,1.75 INCHES IN DIA.
7, 8 & 9. FAN SHAPED FORM SEE PLATE 8 IN CLUNIE AS CLOSE AS I CAN TELL IT FITS IN WITH THE KINIKINI CHIEFS CLUBS. NEWER REPLICA 1960'S OR EARLIER PEARL SHELL INLAY. 40.5 IN. LONG 8.5 WIDE BLADE.
10 & 11. ANOTHER VARIATION FAN SHAPED FORM ALSO FITS MOST CLOSELY WITH KINIKINI FORMS AS ABOVE. 39.5 IN. LONG X 9.26 IN. WIDE
12. OLD DRAWING OF FIJI MEKEMEKE DANCE.

[VANDOO]

PICTURES
1, 2, & 3. VERY FANCY KINIKINI CHIEFS CLUB , EXCELLENT CARVING WITH PEARL SHELL INLAY FULLY CARVED BOTH SIDES. NOT SURE OF AGE, FIJI. 40 INCHES LONG, BLADE 18.25 IN. LONG AND 8 INCHES WIDE.
4 & 5 A FORM OF CLUB THOUGHT TO HAVE ORIGINATED IN TONGA BUT SAW USE IN FIJI, CALLED TEIVAKATOGA SEE CLUNIE PLATE 9, FIGURE F. 41 INCHES LONG , BLADE 9 INCHES WIDE.
6, 7, & 8. ANOTHER TONGAN FULLY CARVED FORM OF CLUB USED IN FIJI SEE CLUNIE PLATE 9 FIGURE D. 50 INCHES LONG, BLADE 7IN. WIDE.
9, 10, 11 & 12. VARIOUS FIJI CLUBS.

[VANDOO]

SOMETIMES ARTISTIC LICENCE MAY LEAD TO THE CREATION OF A REAL ARTEFACT. IT IS NOT UNUSUAL TO HAVE A CLUB OR ARTEFACT WE CAN NOT FIND IN ANY REFERENCE, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE VERY LIMITED REFRENCES AVAILABLE. A PICTURE IN A 1879 MAGAZINE ARTICLE MAY ILLUSTRATE THIS.
ARTISTIC LICENCE AS WELL AS LITERARY LICENCE ( "LICENCE" MEANING MAKEING MOST OF THE STORY UP WITH FEW FACTS AND NO PHOTOGRAPHS.) :) MY 3 PICTURES OF AN UNKNOWN FORM OF CLUB MATCH UP TO NOTHING IN MY REFRENCES BUT RESEMBLE ONE OF THE CLUBS IN THE DRAWING FROM THE MAGAZINE MOST CLOSELY. THIS EXAMPLE CAME OFF THE WALLS OF ONE OF THE OLD TIKI RESTURANTS NOW LONG GONE. IT IS PURE DECOR AND THE CRAFTSMAN MAY VERY WELL HAVE GOTTEN HIS IDEA FROM THIS OLD MAGAZINE PICTURE AND DID A FAIR JOB EVEN CARVING BOTH SIDES. SORRY FOR THE MAGAZINE PICTURE QUALITY, WHEN RESIZED IT LOST SOME CLARITY.
PICTURES #1 PICTURE FROM 1879 MAGAZINE, FIJI CANNIBALS MURDERING AND EATING MISSONARIES.
2,3 & 4 UNKNOWN CLUB 39 INCHES LONG LOOKS SIMULAR TO CLUB PICTURED
5 & 6 ANOTHER UNKNOWN CLUB 42 INCHES LONG MADE IN FIJI 1950'S
7. A FORM OF CLUB THOUGHT TO BE TONGAN IN ORIGIN SAID TO BE FROM FIJI.
8. A PICTURE OF 3 WARRIORS USED TO MAKE A DRAWING OF THE CENTER WARRIOR WITH HIS LARGE ROOTSTOCK CLUB WRAPPED WITH ALTERNATING RED AND BLACK SINNET CORD FOUND IN PARTINGTON'S VERY LARGE REFRENCE BOOK.
9. A VERY LARGE AND UNUSUAL FIJI ULU THROWING CLUB, APPEARS TO BE A ROOTSTOCK FORM. OR PERHAPS A CAULIFLOUR FORM ;)
10. FIJI 1860 DRAWING OF PROCESSION PASING BY CHIEF AND VISITORS TO BE FOLLOWED BY A DANCE. THE TALL BUILDING IS THEIR TEMPLE WHERE THE CHIEF AND VISITORS ARE STANDING.
11. 1920 PICTURE OF WARRIORS PREPARING FOR THE MEKEMEKE WAR DANCE.
12. A 1950'S SOUVINEER VERSION OF A UNCOMMON LONGER CLUB DISCUSSED PREVIOUSLY IN THIS TOPIC. THIS EXAMPLE IS 16 INCHES LONG SO WOULD FIT INTO THE THROWING CLUB SIZE AND CATEGORY. IT IS NOT A COMMON FORM IN THROWING CLUBS EITHER. NOTE THE ACORN SHAPED HEAD.

[VANDOO]

THE ULA FIJI THROWING CLUB COMES IN SEVERAL FORMS AND NOT ALL WERE WAR CLUBS. THERE WERE LIGHTER CLUBS SIMULAR TO THE FORMS USED IN WAR BUT THESE WERE HUNTING CLUBS. THE HUNTING CLUBS WERE USED TO HUNT BIRDS SUCH AS PIGEONS AS WELL AS THE LARGE FRUIT BATS KNOWN AS FLYING FOX. NO DOUBT THE YOUNG BOYS PRACTICED WITH THESE WHILE HUNTING TO GET THE SKILL AND ACCURACY LATER NEEDED FOR SURVIVAL DURING BATTLE. I DON'T HAVE PICTURES OF ALL THE FORMS SHOWN IN CLUNIES BOOK ON PLATES 20 &21 PAGES 59 THRU 63 SO SEE THE BOOK FOR MORE INFORMATION. I WILL PUT PICTURES OF WHAT I HAVE AND ADD WHAT I CAN FIND AS IT IT BECOMES AVAILABLE. THESE FIRST 12 PICTURES ARE OF THE FORM ULA TAVA TAVA WAR CLUBS WHICH HAVE INTRICATELY CARVED FLUTED HEADS. THEIR NAME COMES FROM THE FLANGES OR SERRATIONS ON THE HEAD WHICH WERE THE ORIGINAL ROOTS OR FLANGES OF THE SHRUBS THEY ARE MADE FROM. PICTURES
#1. HEAD OF ONE VARIATION OF THE FORM.
# 2, 3 & 4. AN EXAMPLE OF THE FORM SHOWING VARIOUS ASPECTS, IT IS 17.25 INCHES LONG WHICH IS THE USUAL RANGE IN SIZE GIVE OR TAKE A FEW INCHES.
# 5 & 6 A UNUSUAL FORM WITH SOME ASPECTS OF THE ULA TAVA TAVA AND A FORM CALLED ULA SOBA BECAUSE THE END IS SIMULAR IN SHAPE TO THE FRUIT HEAD OF THE VUDI PLANTAIN BUNCH.ONE PICTURE SHOWS THE HEAD AND THE OTHER THE BUTT END WITH THE CONCAVE HOLLOW. THERE ARE STORIES (WHICH I DON'T BELIEVE) THAT THE CLUB IS THROWN SO THE HANDLE PENETRATES THE BODY AND CAUSES A SUCTION WHEN PULLED OUT DRAGGING OUT BLOOD AND INSIDES. NOT ALL ULA CLUB BUTTS HAVE THIS HOLLOW, SOME ARE FLAT OR HAVE A SMALLER HOLE FOR INLAY.
# 7. ANOTHER VARIATION
# 8. A UNUSUAL FORM WITH A SQUARE HEAD
# 9. & 10. TWO MORE UNUSUAL VARIATIONS OF THE FORM ONE WITH DESIGN CARVED ON THE HEAD.
# 11 & 12. TWO PICTURES OF THE SAME CLUB.

[VANDOO]

THE ULA TAVA TAVA FORM OF CLUBS ARE THE MOST ESTHETICALY PLEASING AND THE ONES WITH IVORY INLAY ESPECIALLY SO. THIS AND THE PRICES REALIZED IS WHY MOST MODERN REPLICAS MADE ARE IN THIS FORM. THIS IS BOTH GOOD AND BAD NEWS AS THERE ARE SOME BEAUTIFUL MODERN ONES BEING MADE AND AS THE VERY FANCY ONES WITH IVORY INLAY ARE VERY RARE IT IS POSSIBLE TO OWN A NICE REPLICA. THE GOOD NEWS IS THERE ARE QUITE A FEW GOOD OLD ULA CLUBS AVAILABLE AS WARRIORS OFTEN CARRIED MORE THAN ONE. WHERE THE MODERN REPLICAS AND SOME NON TRADITIONAL FORMS ARE BEING MADE IS IN QUESTION BUT IT IS CERTIAN NOT ALL OF THEM HAVE BEEN MADE IN FIJI.
MOST ALL ULA ARE MADE FROM ONE SOLID PIECE OF WOOD BUT THE UNUSUAL ONE PICTURED IN PICTURE #4 MAY BE THE EXCEPTION WITH SEPARATE SHAFT AND HEAD.
PICTURES 1 AND 9 ARE OF MODERN ONES FOR TOURISTS AND LIKELY MADE IN THE SOLOMON ISLANDS, LIKELY FROM THE SAME LOCATION AS THE RENNEL ISLAND CLUBS THAT ABOUND ON EBAY.
THE GROUP PICTURES OF ULA FEATURE VARIOUS FORMS FROM PAST AUCTIONS THE CATALOGS ARE GOOD REFRENCES WITH GOOD PICTURES.

[VANDOO]

A FEW MORE #1 ULA TAVA TAVA WITH THE MORE NATURAL ROOTSTOCK FORMS CALLED # 2 ULA KOBO WHICH ARE LESS REGULAR IN SHAPE WITH LESS CARVING. ONE PICTURE IS OF A SPLIT ROUND BALL HEADED FORM CALLED #3 ULA DRISIA THIS SHOWS THE SOLID ONE PIECE CONSTRUCTION OF THESE CLUBS WELL. WE HAVE EXAMPLES OF THE THREE MAIN FORMS HERE.
ONE SHOWS A CLUB BUTT WITH A RING SORT OF IDENTATION. ONE SHOWS A RARE CLUB WITH A HUMAN FACE CARVED IN IT. ONE PICTURE OF A BALL HEAD FORM WITH A HUMAN TOOTH INLAYED INTO THE CLUB HEAD.
A PICTURE OF WARRIOR POSED WITH GATA CLUB AND 3 THROWING CLUBS. NOTE ONE IS QUITE A BIT SMALLER SO MAY BE A HUNTING CLUB AND THE OTHER TWO DIFFERENT FORMS OF WAR ULU CLUBS. HE HAS A FAN USED FOR BLOCKING LIGHT ARROWS OR TO FAN AS NEEDED.

[VANDOO]

#2. CLOSEUP DETAIL OF A BALL HEADED ULA DRISIA (IT IS CALLED BY SEVERAL DIFFERENT NAMES IN DIF. DIALECTS BUT I USE THIS ONE)
#1. CLOSEUP OF NATURAL ROOT BALL HEAD OF ULA KOBO THIS FORM MORE ROUNDED THAN IS USUAL.
#3. FIJI WARRIOR WITH ULU AND SPEAR
#4 & 5. WHAT APPEARS TO BE A VERY WORN SMALL HUNTING CLUB.
#6.& 7. ULU BULIBULI FORM LIKE THE WAR CLUB OF THE SAME NAME. THERE IS A PICTURE OF A RARE ULU WITH A CROOKED HANDLE IN ONE PICTURE.
#8. ULA GASAU A FORM THOUGHT TO HAVE BEEN RESTRICTED TO THE VITI LEVU HIGHLANDS IT IS SHAPED LIKE THE HEAD OF A ULUTOA ,HEAD OF A TIQA THROWING DART. THIS IS A 1950'S SOUVINEER AND IS THE CLOSEST I CAN COME TO THE FORM.

[colin henshaw]

As an aside to VANDOO's thread - the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Cambridge, England currently has showing an excellent exhibition, "Chiefs & Governors, Art and Power in Fiji" with many examples of clubs, spears and other Fijian artefacts.

See www.maa.cam.ac.uk

[VANDOO]

THANKS COLIN PERHAPS I CAN FIND AN EXCUSE TO POP OVER FOR A LOOK BEFORE THE EXHIBIT ENDS. :)
I SEE THE FORUMS AS A LIVING REFRENCE AND RESOURCE, WHERE INFORMATION AND PICTURES CAN BE GATHERED AND NEW THINGS ADDED AND QUESTIONS ASKED BY ALL.
WHAT I HAVE DONE WITH THE FIJI POST AS WELL AS THE OTHER POSTS ON CLUBS IS TO ESTABLISH A ROUGH FOUNDATION FOCUSED ON ARTEFACTS FROM THESE AREAS. THIS MAKES IT EASIER TO FIND INFORMATION ON EACH AREA WHEN INFORMATION, PICTURES AND QUESTIONS ARE GATHERED IN ONE PLACE. ANYONE MAY ACCESS THESE POSTS AND PERHAPS FIND THE INFORMATION SOUGHT OR IDENTIFY THEIR CLUB AND HOPEFULLY POST A PICTURE OF THEIR ITEM TO ADD TO THE RESOURCE. :cool:
I HOPE IT WILL GROW OVER TIME AND PERHAPS INSPIRE INTREST IN SOME YOUNGSTER TO PURSUE KNOWLEGE IN THE FIELD. THEN PERHAPS IT WILL YEILD SOME NEEDED REFRENCE BOOKS IN THE FUTURE. :D
THIS IS ALL I HAVE AT PRESENT SO I STOP HERE UNTIL MORE INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO POST PICTURES AND INFORMATION, ASK QUESTIONS OR CORRECT ME IF I HAVE MADE MISTAKES.

[Sajen]

Thank you Barry for this great and informativeinformative thread. :)
Can add this two plates from "Handbook to the Ethnographical Collections", Britsh Musem from 1910.

[VANDOO]

I WILL TRY TO ADD A FEW LINKS TO PREVIOUS POSTS THAT MAY APPLY TO THIS TOPIC AND CLUBS IN GENERAL TO MAKE FINDING THEM EASIER FOR THOSE INTERESTED.
THE FIRST LINK IS ON DESIGNS ON OCEANIC CLUBS.
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=11507&highlight=maori

THE SECOND ONE OF A SERIES OF 3 ON MAORI SHORT CLUBS
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=11977&highlight=MAORI

3RD http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=11995&highlight=MAORI

4TH. http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=11986&highlight=MAORI

5TH. A USEFUL POST ON NEW GUINEA/ TROBRIAND ISLAND CLUBS.
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=7720&highlight=MAORI

6 TH. A INTERESTING POST ON A WHALEBONE CLUB DIDCUSSING ORIGIN AND AGE, MAORI OR NORTH WEST COAST AMERICAN INDIAN.
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=12498&highlight=MAORI

7TH. DISCUSSION OF UNUSUAL FORM OF MAORI CLUB.
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=5950&highlight=MAORI

[VANDOO]

MORE PICTURES
#1. 1917 BOOK PLATE, 3 GUGU OR TIVITIVI CLUBS
#2, #3 & 4. TWO NEW FIJI ULAS SHOWING ONE REGULAR FORM AND A FORM LIKELY SHOWING INDIA INFLUENCE I REFER TO IT AS A LOTUS CLUB. PEOPLE FROM INDIA HAVE NOT BEEN LIVING IN FIJI AS LONG AS THE TONGANS BUT THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF INDIAN INFLUENCE.
#5. NEWER ULA 48 X 16 CM. LONG.
#6. A REGULAR TOTOKIA FIJI CLUB AND THE FORM MADE UP FOR STAR WARS BASED ON IT.
#7. WESI OR SPEAR DANCE FIJI
# 8. PLATE FROM OLD BOOK FIJI CLUBS
# 9. THE ROYAL MACE OF FIJI
# 10. 1870 FIJI WARRIOR
# 11 & 12. 1910 CANNIBAL TOM SAID TO BE 90 YEARS OLD AND THE LAST LIVING CANNIBAL AT THE TIME.

[VANDOO]

A FEW MORE PICTURES #1. 12 INCH LONG MODERN TOURIST ULA THROWING CLUB
#2. 1920 FIGI DRUMMER
#3. 1920'S FIJI WARRIORS
#4.1930 PAGOPAGO AMERICAN SAMOA
#5. 1930 FIJI WARRIOR
#6 & 7. FIJI MOCK BATTLE
#8. FIJI WARRIOR WITH CLUB
#9. FIJI WARRIOR WITH WAR AX
#10, 11, & 12 FIJI WARRIORS VARIOUS.

[VANDOO]

IN THE ABOVE POST A PICTURE OF 4 SAMOANS GOT INTO THE FIJI TOPIC VERY SNEEKY OF THEM :D IT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN MY MISTAKE :rolleyes:


PICTURE #1 DRAWING OF DANCER WITH FIJI DANCE SKIRT THEY ARE MADE OF PAINTED PANDANUS LEAF STRIPS AND OF BARK CLOTH STRIPS (TAPA). THE ONE SHOWN ALSO HAS A SORT OF DECORATION.
#2 & #3 SHOWS THE SKIRT WORN FOR WAR IT IS MADE OF A PARTICULAR TYPE OF BLACK VINE OVER SOME OTHER MATERIAL. SKIRT CALLED (LIKU WALOA).
#4. POSTCARD SHOWING 3 WARRIORS WITH CLUBS
#5. CULACULA MADE OF VESI WOOD 45.5 IN. LONG
#6. OVER SIZE CANNIBAL FORK 35 IN. LONG FOR TOURISTS
#7. FIJI BOVAI CLUB
#8. FIJI FOODS FOR FEAST 1930'S
#9. OLD PRINT FIJI , VARIOUS PICTURES
#10. OLD PRINT FIJI WAR SPEARS, CALLED SOKILAKI
#11. FIJI SHOP WITH ASSORTMENT OF MODERN CLUBS MANY FANTASY FORMS.
#12. TWO WARRIORS POSED PICTURE TAKEN IN 1884

[VANDOO]

AN INEXPENSIVE AND COMPACT WAY TO COLLECT FIJIAN CLUBS

[VANDOO]

A FEW MORE FIJI CLUBS. #1. 20IN. LONG, SMALL BATON SIZE CLUB, BOWAI
#2. 21IN. LONG, SMALL BATON SIZE BOWAI
#3. 29 IN. LONG, SMALLER BATON SIZE BOWAI POLE CLUB.
#4. & #5. FIJI ULA, RECENT
#6. FIJI ULA, OLD WITH WHALE IVORY INLAY
#7. 31.2 CM. RECENT, 20TH CENTURY ULA
#8.& #9. 40 CM. L. 18TH TO EARLY 19 CENTURY, HUMAN TEETH INLAY
#10 & # 11. EXTRA LARGE FIJI ULA OLD AUCTION CATALOG.
#12. 1902 FIJI CHIEF WITH SMALL BOWAI

[VANDOO]

#1. FIJI DRUMMER
#2. OLD ROOTSTOCK CLUB SHOWING MARKS FROM OLD FIBER WRAP.
#3. OLD ROOTSTOCK CLUB WITH INSET HUMAN TEETH
#4. FIJI ROOTSTOCK WITH INLAY
#5., #6., #7. 111CM. LONG, 18TH TO EARLY 19 TH. CENTURY.
#8., #9., #10. FIJI GUGU CLUB
#11. OLD FIJI GUGU CLUB WITH FIBER WRAPINGS.
#12. OLD FIJI SPEAR.

[VANDOO]

A FEW MORE CLUBS.
#1., #2, #3. FIJI CLUB 39IN. LONG, DESIGN SAID TO RESEMBLE A FURLED CANOE SAIL. SOMETIMES CALLED GATA, SOBESILA OR SALI VATUVATU.
#4., #5. FIJI CULACULA, 24IN. LONG CIRC. 1980'S.
#6. FIJI PADDLE STYLE CLUB
#7, #8, #9, #10. FIJI TOTOKIA CLUB 98CM.LONG EARLY 19TH CENTURY.
#11. FIJI GATA CLUB WITH POUNDED DESIGNS ON SIDES. THE TREE IS SHAPED AND POUNDED WHILE GROWING TO MAKE THIS FORM OF DESIGN.
#12. FIJI COIN SHOWING A ULA THROWING CLUB.

[VANDOO]

A FEW MORE FIJI CLUBS.
#1., 2, & 3 , CIRC. 1960'S OR LATER 570 MM. LONG
#4, 5,& 6. HEAVY TONGAN INFLUENCE, LIKELY CARVED IN FIJI, 37 IN. LONG, LIKELY 1960;S OR LATER WITH MARINE IVORY, BONE OR SHELL INLAY?.
#7. FIJI RECENT NICE LOOKING TOURIST WALL HANGER
#8, 9, & 10 RECENT FIJI CLUB
#11. OLD POSTCARD FIJI STAGED CLUB FIGHT.
#12. OLDER FIJI CLUB, PRE- WW2

[VANDOO]

PICTURES #1 THRU #4 REFERRED TO AS TUKI IN FIJIAN. THEY WERE A TYPE OF BATTLE HAMMER SOME WITH A FLAT STRIKING HEAD AND SOME WITH A SHORT BROAD SPIKE LIKE THIS EXAMPLE. THEY EVOLVED INTO THE MORE COMMON FLAMBOYANT TOTOKIA AND ARE MORE RARE. SEE CLUNNIE'S BOOK FIG .#5 AND TEXT ON PAGE 54. THIS OLDER EXAMPLE DOES SHOW WEAR AND PATINA CONSISTENT WITH USE. 36.5 INCHES LONG
#5 THRU #8 IS A FORM USED IN FIJI BUT THOUGHT TO HAVE COME FROM TONGA AND OFTEN SHOWS STRONG TONGAN INFLUENCE. IN FIJI IT WAS CALLED TEIVAKATONGA SEE PAGE 56 AND FIGURE 9 IN CLUNNIE'S BOOK. ITEM A AND F BEING THE CLOSEST TO THIS EXAMPLE.

[VANDOO]

A FEW MORE EXAMPLES FROM FIJI FOR REFRENCE.
#1. SMALL BATON SOMETIMES REFERED TO AS A WIFE BEATING CLUB 16.75 IN.L.
#2. RECENT FIJI TOOTHED GATA DESIGN
#3. THRU #5. FIJI ULA, NOTE THIS IS THE FORM WITH THE CONCAVE CAVITY IN THE HANDLE 38 CM. LONG.
#6. 73 CM. FIJI ROOTSTOCK CLUB, UNUSUAL VARIATION WITH GOOD AGE
#7. FIJI GATA VARIATION WITH BACK SPIKES, I HAVE NOT SEEN OLD TRADITIONAL EXAMPLES OF THE FORM WITH SPIKES AND SUSPECT IT IS A RECENT DESIGN AS THIS CLUB IS RECENT.
#8. THRU #11. RECENT FIJI CLUB WITH SHELL INLAY AND TONGAN INFLUENCED DESIGNS CARVED HUMAN FIGURE, ECT..
#12. CLOSEUP OF NEW STYLIZED FIJI TOOTHED GATA CLUB

[VANDOO]

A FEW MORE #1. THREE FIJI TOURIST CLUBS
#2 THRU #4 LOOKS LIKE A UNUSUAL RECENT INTERPRETATION OF A FIJI ROOTSTOCK CLUB WITH INLAY. ITS ORIGIN COULD BE FIJI OR MOST ANYWHERE :confused:
#5 & #6. RECENT FIJI KINIKINI CHIEFS CLUB WITH SENNIT CORD AND FIJI TAPA WRAP. COMPLETELY CARVED TONGAN INFLUENCE.

[Kinikini]

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]

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

[kronckew]

...
#5 & #6. RECENT FIJI KINIKINI CHIEFS CLUB WITH SENNIT CORD AND FIJI TAPA WRAP. COMPLETELY CARVED TONGAN INFLUENCE.

what is the purpose of blunting & padding (and presumably weakening) the edges by wrapping them? it appears they are wrapped thru slots parallel to the edge.

[VANDOO]

I AGREE THIS OPENWORK EDGE AND CORD ON THE STRIKING EDGE OF THE CLUB HEAD WOULD MAKE FOR A LESS EFFICENT WAR CLUB. I HAVE SEEN THIS OPENWORK WRAPPED WITH SENNIT CORD ON THIS EXAMPLE AND ONE OTHER, BOTH CLUBS WERE MADE 1960'S OR LATER. ORIGINALLY THIS SORT OF LARGE CLUB (KINIKINI) WAS MORE A BADGE OF OFFICE CARRIED BY CHIEFS OR PRIESTS AT SPECIAL OCCASIONS RATHER THAN A WAR CLUB. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS SORT OF CORD AND OPENWORK EDGE WAS BASED ON A REAL TRADITIONAL OLD CLUB FORM OR A RECENTY MADE UP DESIGN.
THE USE OF TAPA CLOTH ON A CLUB HANDLE MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN USED TRADITIONALLY BUT I DON'T REMEMBER SEEING ANY EXAMPLES ON OLD CLUBS. MOST OLD CLUBS ARE MISSING THE WRAP ON THE HANDLES AS IT DRYS AND BECOMES BRITTLE AND BREAKS OFF AND IS LOST. I HAVE SEEN SENNIT CORD AND WOVEN FIBERS USED TO COVER OLD CLUB HANDLES BUT NO TAPA WITH DESIGNS.
THE MODERN CLUBS MADE TODAY USING MODERN TOOLS FALL LOOSLY INTO THREE CATEGORYS. #1. GOOD FULL SIZE REPLICAS OF OLD CLUBS #2. FANTASY FORMS OFTEN BORROWING FROM OTHER CULTURES. #3. SMALL VERSIONS OF BOTH OF THE ABOVE CATEGORYS ESPECIALLY FOR TOURISTS.
THERE IS SO MUCH I DON'T KNOW BUT I TRY TO PUT DOWN WHAT LITTLE I CAN AND HOPE SOME ONE WITH MORE KNOWLEGE WILL SHOW UP WITH THE ANSWERS AND CORRECT ANY MISTAKES I MAY MAKE. :shrug:

[Kinikini]

Hi Vanado, thank's for your reply, I must point out that the Musket balls have not been hammered into the shaft.....The deep crack in the shaft is the result of the musket balls hitting it at such a high velocity that they have "Mushroomed" at the moment of impact. One of the musket balls is loose and it's possible to see the way the ball has deformed as it's penetrated the shaft. The hole it's created is not man made or natural and you can see the way that the wood has "bent" in with the force of the impact rather than flush and drilled like I guess it would have been in order to intentionally "inlay" the shaft.
It's a shame that your not here to handle and inspect the club in person as I think you would agree that this club has been in a battle where the air must have been full of the sound of gunfire, with bullets flying everywhere.
Another interesting feature of the club is that in the area that it would have been gripped it's as though it has been "sprayed" with something that's stained it darker while it was being held/gripped and this has left a lighter area where the hand was gripping it. Maybe it's me reading too much into this but I still believe that the stains are caused by blood. I will post some more pic's of my clubs soon. Good Luck and Good Hunting Kinikini

[VANDOO]

I WISH I COULD BE THERE TO HANDLE THESE CLUBS TOO. :D
ITS NOT POSSIBLE TO TELL MUCH OR TO GET A FEEL FOR A WEAPON FROM PICTURES. BUT A PICTURE IS STILL OFTEN BETTER THAN A THOUSAND WORDS.
I ASSUMED THE LEAD WAS INLAYED BECAUSE IT WAS FLUSH WITH THE CLUB HANDLE AND THERE APPEAR TO BE LONG THIN PIECES IN THE CRACKS. SO PERHAPS THE WARRIOR SURVIVED THE BATTLE AND HAD LEAD BULLETS ON HAND TO INLAY WHERE HIS CLUB WAS STRUCK IN THE FIGHT. IF THE CLUB COULD ONLY TALK IT WOULD BE AN INTERESTING STORY. IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO RUN MODERN FORENSIC TESTS ON SUCH CLUBS AS BLOOD SPLATTER COULD HELP TELL SOME STORIES. I REMEMBER IN SOME ISLANDS WHEN ONE SIDE LOST THE FIRST MAN ,IN BATTLE THAT SIDE RAN OFF, I DON'T REMEMBER IF IT WAS FIJI FOR SURE. :confused: THERE HAS BEEN SO MUCH INFORMATION AND GOOD STORIES LOST IN THE PAST ITS GOOD WE CAN PUT WHAT WE KNOW OR REMEMBER HERE SO EVERYONE WILL NOT HAVE TO START OVER AGAIN IN EACH GENERATION.

[VANDOO]

PICTURE #1, #2. & #3. FIJI BOWAI, POLE CLUB, ROUNDED STRIKING END,39.5 IN. LONG X 1.9 IN. DIAMETER.
#4 & #5. FIJI ULA THROWING CLUB, 43 CM. LONG, CIRC. 1850 TO 1899
#6.OLD FIJI PADDLE CLUB
#. 7. TWO SNAIL FORM CLUB ONE VERY RECENT AND ONE WELL CARVED OLDER ONE.
#8. FIJI CLUBS OLDMAN COLLECTION CATALOG

[VANDOO]

I FOUND A SERIES OF DRAWINGS OF FIJI CLUBS WITH THE OLD FIJIAN NAMES SO i WILL ADD THEM HERE.
1. BOVAI POLE CLUB,TYPE WITH DOMED TOP, DRAWING OF CLUB AND TOP
THE NEXT THREE ARE FORMS OF ROOTSTOCK CLUBS IT REFRES TO CLUB
HEAD SHAPE
2. WAKA FORM
3. VUNIKAU FORM
4. BULIKIA FORM
5. BULIBULI FORM THIS SHAPE RESEMBLES THE PANDANUS AS MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY.
6. CULACULA FORM, CRAB
7. DUI FORM, EARED
8. GUGU FORM, BUTTERFLY FISH
9. TOTOKIA, BEAKED WAR HAMMER
10. TEIVAKATOGA FORM
11. I- TUKI FORM ,OLDER FORM OF WAR HAMMER
12. TAVO FORM

[VANDOO]

A FEW MORE DRAWINGS.
#1. GATA CLUB, STRAIGHT FORM, MOST OF THIS TYPE ARE CURVED.
#2. SALI CLUB FORM
#3. KIAKAVO CLUB FORM, FOR DANCE
#4. KINIKINI CLUB FORM
THROWING CLUB FORMS
#5. SEVERAL VARIOUS FORMS OF ULA CLUBS
#6. ULA DRISIA ROUND HEAD
#7. THREE VARIATIONS OF ULA KOBO FORMS
#8. ULA GASAU TWO EXAMPLES.
#9.VARIATIONS OF ULA CLUBS BOOK PLATE
#10. MORE VARIATIONS OF ULA
#11. AND #12. PICTURES OF VARIOUS ULA ONE WITH HUMAN TOOTH

[VANDOO]

12 PICTURES OF VARIOUS FIJI ULA THROWING CLUBS.

[Gehazi]

amazing thread, blown away by the art in these posts-- you have amazing collection worthy of a museum, I have always been fond of clubs but find them impossible to get -- the ones I like everyone likes !

keep it up , and please keep sharing this amazing stuff-- have nothing to offer other than admiration!

[VANDOO]

MORE EXAMPLES OF FIJI ULA THROWING CLUBS.
#1.UNUSUAL ROOTSTOCK FORM HEAD
#2. BULIBULI FORM THROWING CLUB, RESEMBLES THE PANDANUS FRUIT
#3. BALL HEAD, DRISIA , BATON FORM
#4. & #5. UNUSUAL NATURAL BURL FORM
#6 & #7. SHAPED ROOTSTOCK WITH HOLE FOR INLAY
#8. DETAIL OF CARVED HEAD
#9. BALL HEAD FORM CALLED DRISIA.
#10. HEAD WITH INLAY
#11. HANDLE INLAY
#12. HANDLES AND HEAD WITH HUMAN TOOTH INLAY

[VANDOO]

MORE FIJI ULA THROWING CLUBS

[VANDOO]

MORE EXAMPLES OF ULA THROWING CLUBS FIJI
#1 THRU #4. RARE QUADRANGLE FORM OF FIJI THROWING CLUB,SAID TO REPRESENT THE NUT OF THE VUTU TREE. THE NEWER ONE IS 37CM. LONG.
#5. #6, #7. BALL HEAD ULA CLUBS DRISIA
#8 THRU #10 VARIOUS ULA THROWING CLUBS
#11. DRAWING OF WARRIOR WITH TWO ULA AND CLUB
#12. A STRANGE FIJI CLUB SMALL SIZE BUT I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO PLACE IT.

[VANDOO]

#1., #2.,#3.& #4., (WAWA VOTOVOTOA) TRANSLATED PRICKLY GUTS. APPROX 3.5 FEET LONG. PLATE 12 FIG. D,E & F. CLUNIE'S BOOK
#5 & #6. BOWAI WITH A UNUSUAL BUTT. 107 MM LONG
# 7 THRU #10 VARIOUS LONG FIJI BOWAI, POLE CLUBS
#11. SHORT FIJI POLE CLUB , BATON TYPE CLUB.
#12. DETAIL OF UNUSUAL CARVED DESIGN ON FIJI ULA THROWING CLUB GRIP.

[VANDOO]

MORE FIJI ROOTSTOCK CLUBS
#1., #2., #3. #4. & #5. INTERESTING CARVED CLUB 95 CM. LONG, CIRCA. 1800'S TO EARLY 1900'S
#6. & #7. 111 CM LONG CLUB WITH INLAY
#8. CLUB HEAD WITH INLAY
#9. ROOTSTOCK CLUB HEAD
#10. ROOTSTOCK CLUB, THIS SHAPE IS REFERRED TO AS BULIKIA FORM.
#11. ROOTSTOCK CLUB, THIS LONGER SHAPE REFERED TO AS VUNIKAU
FORM.
!2. ROOTSTOCK CLUBS IN MUSEUM STORAGE.

[VANDOO]

TOTOKIA VARIOUS EXAMPLES

[VANDOO]

A FEW MORE #1. TOTOKIA
#2. TOTOKIA 85 CM.L. HEAD 13 CM DIA. MID 19TH. CENTURY
#3 & #4. 92 CM. L. HEAD AND HANDLE GRIP
#5. TOTOKIA
#6. OLD DRAWING OF FIJI CLUBS
#7., #8. & #9. OLD KINIKINI CLUB
#10. OLD FIJI PADDLE CLUB
#11. FIJI KINIKINI CLUB
#12. 1870 PRINT FIJI ISLANDERS NOTE TOTOKIA

[chiefheadknocker]

thanks for putting up pictures of these lovely clubs , ive such a passion for Fijian clubs its makes my mouth water to see nice examples , ive posted a couple of pics of my totokia to show the inlayed handle

[VANDOO]

A VERY NICE CLUB WITH GOOD PATINA A CARVED GRIP AND MOST UNUSUAL A STAR INLAY AT THE CLUB BUTT. MANY OF THE TOTOKIA DON'T HAVE A CARVED DESIGN ON THE GRIP AND FEWER STILL HAVE ANY INLAY. MOST INLAY IS SEEN ON THE ULA THROWING CLUBS AND THE ROOTSTOCK FORMS. THE MOST COMMON INLAY ON THE BUTT OF A CLUB IS USUALLY A DISK WHICH EITHER REPRESENTS THE MOON OR SUN. THE INLAY PATTERNS I SEE ARE SUN MOON AND STARS. THE SUN IS A DISK WITH MANY RAYS THE MOON EITHER A SMOOTH ROUND OR HALF MOON THE STARS COME IN 4 POINT AND FIVE POINT AND PERHAPS TRIANGLE SHAPES. THE OTHER COMMON INLAY IS HUMAN TEETH. HERE ARE SOME PICTURES
#1. IS FROM A BOOK AND HAS SEVERAL TYPES OF CLUB ONE IS A TOTOKIA WITH A IVORY SPIKE AND INLAY AT THE BUTT ITS THE ONLY OTHER EXAMPLE I AM AWARE OF.
#2. A ULA WITH THE STARS AND MOON INLAY SIMULAR TO YOUR INLAY
#3., #4. & #5. SHOWING VARIATIONS IN INLAY PATTERNS ON ULA CLUBS
#6. WHEN RECEIVING A GOOD BONK ON THE HEAD WITH THIS ONE YOU WILL SEE STARS. :D
THANKS FOR ADDING A VALUABLE EXAMPLE TO THE REFRENCE. :)

[Gehazi]

amazing collection, great thread, thanks for sharing!

[chiefheadknocker]

wow some lovely inlayed clubs there , heres a picture of a couple of large heavyweight ulas I have , in the past I have had many ula clubs but these two are the largest and heaviest ive had , you can see why they were such a deadly weapon ,one blow from one of these would certainly kill

[Tim Simmons]

BULIKIA with masculine finished root ball.

[VANDOO]

A FEW MORE VARIATIONS OF FIJI CLUBS
#1. & #2. A FIJI CLUB THE EXACT FORM IS NOT SHOWN IN CLUNNIES BOOK BUT MAY BE A FORM OF DUI I WILL HAVE TO LOOK FARTHER INTO IT.91.8 CM. LONG
#3. ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE FORM SHOWN IN #1 &2
#4., #5. & #6. FIJI CULA CULA FORM WITH A UNUSUAL CURVED/ HOOKED STRIKING END.
#7. OLD BOOK PLATE SHOWING VARIOUS FORMS OF FIJI CLUBS.
#8 & #9. UNUSUAL FIJI KIAKAVO, EARLY 1900'S 98 CM. L. DOT DESIGNS
#10, #11, & #12 FIJI SALI CLUB 19 TH CENTURY 1METER 10 CM. LONG VERY WELL CARVED

[VANDOO]

PICTURES #1 THRU #4 SOME MUSEUM DISPLAY OR STORAGE IN FIJI.
#5 THRU #8. CLUBS FOR SALE IN FIJI, #10 & #11 FIJI CANNIBAL FORK WITH HANDLE IN THE SHAPE OF A ULA THROWING CLUB #12. MODERN FIJI TOURIST CLUB UNUSUAL FORM.
#9 VARIATIONS OF OLD FIJI CLUBS.

[VANDOO]

#1. OLD DRAWING FIJI WARRIOR
#2. FIJI GATA FORM CLUB
#3. FIJI GUGU CLUB 79 cm. LONG
#4. FIJI BOOK PLATE
#5. AX FROM FIJI MUSEUM
#6. OLD PICTURE OF FIJI CHIEF
#7. GRAPH SHOWING PERCENTAGES OF FIJIAN ARTIFACTS, THEY WERE VERY HEAVY INTO WEAPONS.
#8. #9. & #10 PLATES FROM FIJI BOOK
#11 & #12 FIJI SPEARS

[VANDOO]

#1. RECENT FIJI CLUB
#2. SALI CLUB
#3. OLD FIJI CULACULA CLUB
#4. RECENT FIJI KINIKINI CLUB 60 CM.
#5. & #6. FIJI GATA CLUB WITH POUNDED DESIGN TECHNIQUE
#7. FIJI GATA DESIGN DETAIL
#8. FIJI CLUB
#9. CLUB WITH INLAY
#10. CLUB FROM FIJI MUSEUM
#11. FIJI CLUB CRUDE FORM
#12. FIJI BULIBULI CLUB WITH TONGAN INFLUENCE.

[VANDOO]

#1 & #2. TWO TOTOKIA 35IN. L. 83CM.
#3. FIJI ROOTSTOCK CLUB. 43.5 INCHES LONG
#4., #5. & #6. FIJI CEREMONIAL CLUB WITH PORPOISE TEETH,CORAL AND WOOD, 32 IN. L.
#7. & #8. ULA THROWING CLUB WITH WHALE TOOTH, 16.25 IN, OR 41.3 CM.
#9. FIJI CEREMONIAL SEPTER CLUB 17 INCH L.
#10. FIJI CLUBS WALL DECOR
#11. OLD FIJI CLUBS DISPLAY
#12. NICE SALI WITH LARGE SPIKE

[VANDOO]

#1. FIJI CULACULA MODERN CLUB, 27 INCHES LONG
#2. FIJI CEREMONIAL STAFF TOP
#3. & #4. FIJI TOTOKIA WITH HUMAN FRONT TOOTH INLAY
#5. TOP OF FIJI CEREMONIAL SEPTER 17 IN. LONG
#6. , #7, & #8. MODERN FIJI SNAIL FORM CLUB
#9. OLD ROOTSTOCK CLUB WITH INTACT WRAP ON HANDLE
#10. & #11. FIJI CLUBS AND SPEARS OLDMAN COLLECTION.
#12. OLD DANCE CLUB KIAKAVO

[VANDOO]

#1, #2, #3. FIJI TOTOKIA CLUB, 37 IN. LONG
#4. PLATE FROM OLDMAN CATALOG VARIOUS CLUBS AND ADZ FIJI.
#5. OLDMAN COLLECTION TONGAN, SAMOAN AND FIJI CLUBS
#6. ROTUMA ISLAND FIJI CLUBS TONGAN INFLUENCE.
#7. OLDMAN COLLECTION FIJI BELT CLUBS AND LONG CLUBS WITH TONGAN INFLUENCE.

[VANDOO]

I AM REVISITING THIS CLUB FORM AS THE OTHERS I HAVE SEEN WERE SOUVINEERS SAID TO BE FROM AROUND THE 1950'S. THE TWO LARGE CLUBS I HAD SEEN BOTH HAD FIJI AND SUVA CARVED ON THEM AND HAD SENNET CORD WRAP AND A GOOD PATINA AS WOULD BE EXPECTED FOR 1950'S. THE SMALLER THROWING CLUB I FOUND PAIRED WITH A LARGER CLUB WAS MARKED AND PATINATED SIMULARLY. THIS FORM OF THROWING CLUB WAS SAID TO HAVE BEEN RESTRICTED TO THE HIGH LANDS OF VITI LEVU FIJI'S LARGEST ISLAND WHERE ITS CAPITOL AND LARGEST CITY SUVA IS LOCATED.
I HAVE RECENTLY AQUIRED AN EXAMPLE OF THIS CLUB THAT IS OLDER AND HAS NO WRITING AND A OLD FIBER WRAP CONSISTANT WITH OLDER DANCE CLUBS. I AM GUESSING THE LARGE CLUB AND SMALLER THROWING CLUB COME FROM THE SAME GROUP AND AREA AND THIS IS A OLD FORM NOT JUST A TOURIST PIECE. OPINIONS AND INFORMATION WELCOME AS ALWAYS.
PICTURE #1. THROWING CLUB CIRCA 1950'S
#2. LARGE CLUB THAT CAME WITH IT WITH SIMULAT WRITING AND PATINA, 42 INCHES LONG LARGE AND HEAVY HARD WOOD.
#3, & #4. OLDER UNMARKED TRADITIONAL FORM 43 INCHES LONG, HEAVY HARD WOOD.

[fireiceviper]

Hi Vandoo,

I Have never seen an old club of that shape... do you have a name for it?

[VANDOO]

UNFORTUNATELY I DO NOT HAVE A NAME FOR THE LARGE CLUB.
CLUNNIES BOOK SHOWS THE SHORT CLUB ON PLATE # 20 ITEM J AND I, IT IS CALLED "ULA GASAU " AND IS A RARE FORM THOUGHT TO ORIGINATE IN THE HIGHLANDS OF VITI LEVU. IT RESEMBLES A TYPE OF THROWING DART CALLED A TIQUA DART.
SEVERAL YEARS AGO I BOUGHT A MATCHED PAIR ONE SHORT AND ONE LONG I HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS FORM OF LONG CLUB IN A REFERENCE BUT HAVE SEEN 3 EXAMPLES OVER THE YEARS. I HAVE SEEN 5 OR 6 OF THE THROWING CLUBS. THE BEST I CAN DO IS ASSOCIATE THESE TWO CLUBS AS COMING FROM THE SAME GROUP AND AREA AND LIKELY HAVING SEEN TRIBAL USE AS WELL AS BEING SOLD TO TOURISTS. JUST CONJECTURE UNTIL SOMEONE COMES FORTH WITH A REFRENCE BUT AT LEAST THERE WILL BE PICTURES AND SOME INFO. HERE. THE REFRENCES AND MUSEUMS HAVE A LOT OF INFORMATION BUT UNFORTUNATELY THEY DON'T HAVE EVERYTHING. :shrug: HERE IS THE DRAWING OF THE SHORT THROWING CLUB FORMS

[fireiceviper]

Hi Vandoo,

I found one of your own posts that does show something Australian and similar:

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=11507

It's the only thing close in my opinion.

[VANDOO]

THE CLUB MENTIONED ABOVE WAS A AUSTRALIAN LEGEL CLUB THAT I THOUGHT MIGHT REPRESENT THE JABARU BIRD. IT IS QUITE A LOT SMALLER AND LIGHTER THAN THE FIJI CLUB BUT AS STATED ABOUT AS CLOSE AS WE HAVE SEEN.

HERE ARE A FEW MORE EXAMPLES OF FIJI CLUBS FOR THE REFERENCE. :)
#1 THRU #6. FIJI TOTOKIA 85 CM. LATE 1800'S
#7 THRU #8. FIJI ULA THROWING CLUB WITH NICE MARINE IVORY INLAYS,
15.5 INCHES LONG.
#9. FIJI TOTOKIA 86.4 CM. LONG
#10 & #11. MATCHED PAIR OF FIJI SALI CLUBS 106 CM. LONG

[VANDOO]

THIS TOTOKIA IS A SMALLER FASTER SIZE THAN MOST I HAVE SEEN BUT WOULD BE A LOT FASTER AND EASIER TO USE IN AN ACTUAL FIGHT. SOME OF THESE CLUBS ARE WAY TO LARGE AT THE GRIP FOR A FELLOW MY SIZE. THERE ARE FIJIANS WHO ARE LARGE ENOUGH TO USE THE LARGER CLUBS BUT I SUSPECT SMALLER ONES WERE THE NORM.
#1 THRU #4. FIJI TOTOKIA 26 INCHES LONG NATURAL FIBER WRAP GOOD HEAVY HARD WOOD
SAID TO HAVE BEEN BROUGHT BACK BY A GREAT GRANDFATHER FROM HIS TRAVELS NO DATE BUT FROM THE PATINA AND WORKMANSHIP I SUSPECT SOMEWHERE AFTER WW1 PERHAPS EARLY 1930'S. ITS MINE NOW :D

[VANDOO]

AS THE OLD YEAR ENDS AND THE NEW BEGINS AN EXAMPLE OF THE OLD AND ONE OF THE NEW. :rolleyes:
#1. A PICTURE OF SOME OLD FORMS OF FIJI CLUBS
#2. & #3. NEW FANTASY CLUB NO DOUBT THE WEAPON OF THE FEARED SEAHORSE WARRIORS OR JUST FOR HORSING AROUND. :D

#4. FIJI WARRIOR WITH AN AX

[VANDOO]

HERE ARE SOME VARIATIONS OF THE TOTOKIA WAR CLUBS HEADS AND SPIKES . THE OLDER FROMS WERE REFERRED TO AS TUKI BATTLE HAMMERS. THEY FEATURED A SHORT WIDE SPIKE OR NO SPIKE AT ALL. SEE PICTURES #1. THRU #5.
I WOULD GUESS THE SPIKE EVOLVED INTO A LONGER MORE NARROW FORM SOME WITH A SIMPLE SPIKE AND SOME THICKENED AND SHAPED AT THE TIP. SEE VARIATIONS #7. THRU #12.

#2. TUKI 18TH. CENTURY
#5. 92 CM. LONG TUKI
#8. TOTOKIA EARLY 19TH. CENTURY, 98 CM. LONG
#9. TOTOKIA CIRC 1960, 570 MM. LONG
#10. TOTOKIA WITH OVAL SHAPED HEAD AND THICKENED SPIKE 39.5 INCHES LONG
#11. CIRCA 1960'S TOTOKIA
#12. OLD PICTURE OF FIJI WARRIOR WITH TOTOKIA

[VANDOO]

PICTURE #1 & #2. ARE THE ONLY EXAMPLES OF TOTOKIA CLUBS WITH A SPIKE FASHIONED FROM A SPERM WHALE TOOTH THAT I HAVE PICTURES OF. IT BRINGS UP THE QUESTION WAS OTHER HARD MATERIALS EVER USED TO MAKE OR REPLACE A BROKEN SPIKE ON THIS FORM OF CLUB. SHELL AND BONE WOULD HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE AND PERHAPS STONE AND LATER IRON. IS ANYONE AWARE OF SUCH VARIATIONS IN MUSEUMS?
#3. THE PICTURE IN THE POST ABOVE SHOWS WHAT MAY BE AN EXAMPLE OF THE RARE VUTU OR QUADRANGLE CLUB FORM. I HAVE MADE A CLOSE UP BUT IT IS STILL FAR FROM CERTAIN BUT IT WOULD BE COOL TO HAVE AN OLD PICTURE OF ONE. PICTURE #6 OLD VUTU CLUB FOR COMPARISON.
WHILE I AM ASKING QUESTIONS PICTURE #4 & #5. ARE OF A OLD FIJI OBJECT DESCRIBED AS A CEREMONIAL SCEPTER 17 INCHES LONG. IN MANY TRIBAL SOCIETY'S THEY HAVE USED MESSENGERS TO RUN FROM ONE KINGDOM TO ANOTHER CARYING A MESSAGE IN A STICK ONLY TO BE DELIVERED TO THE PERSON IT WAS FOR. WAS THIS METHOD EVER USED IN POLYNESIAN SOCIETY'S OR DID THEY JUST GIVE A VERBAL MESSAGE IF WRITING WAS NOT KNOWN.? IT COULD ALSO BE THE CHIEF'S FAN HANDLE. :D

[Houkura]

Thought I'd share one of my Fijian clubs. Nice Totokia deaccessioned from Haggerty Art Museum at Marquette University. Found at a decorators auction in Chicago several years ago.

[VANDOO]

A VERY FINE OLDER EXAMPLE WITH NICE PATINA AND CARVING. :D IT APPEARS TO BE OF A REASONABLE SIZE NOT ONE OF THE VERY LARGE ONES WITH A GRIP AS BIG AROUND AS THE BIG END OF A BASEBALL BAT. WHAT ARE ITS MEASUREMENTS?. THANKS FOR SHARING AND ADDING IT TO THE REFERENCE. :cool:

[Houkura]

A VERY FINE OLDER EXAMPLE WITH NICE PATINA AND CARVING. :D IT APPEARS TO BE OF A REASONABLE SIZE NOT ONE OF THE VERY LARGE ONES WITH A GRIP AS BIG AROUND AS THE BIG END OF A BASEBALL BAT. WHAT ARE ITS MEASUREMENTS?. THANKS FOR SHARING AND ADDING IT TO THE REFERENCE. :cool:


It's actually pretty massive. Hard to swing (unless you are a huge Fijian warrior). I've seen bigger but yeah quite large. 90cm long, spiked head is about 17cm, spur is 11cm and handle is about 15cm circumference.

I've really enjoyed your posts here-thanks for taking the time. Lots of great information. You even have one of my clubs in one of the posts! It's a very small Culacula club that has a handle the size of an Ula handle and a small club head. I will try to find it and take a photo...it may be in my storage locker...

[fireiceviper]

Looks like a good one Houkura!

Perhaps a good idea to clean this thread (or sort) it by real and tourist? because there are a lot of fake or tourist clubs in this thread!

[kronckew]

i disagree, current production clubs that would be functional had they still been used in local wars or ceremonies are still artistic and desireable if traditionally made and carved in traditional patterns and skill are for me, OK. crudely made toys are another thing.heck, many items made in the 19c worldwide were made for those who travel, sometimes even better than modern ones. who buys them is not as important as who made them and how historically accurate are they. we do need to keep out the junk and deliberate frauds, unless so marked for education...

[VANDOO]

THIS THREAD IS DESIGNED TO ALWAYS BE A WORK IN PROGRESS, ADDING ITEMS AS WE GO ALONG SO A ORDERED INDEX WOULD HAVE TO BE CONSTANTLY UPDATED. I OFTEN PLACE NEW CLUBS AND OLD CLUBS AS WELL AS VARIOUS FORMS TOGETHER AS THAT'S WHAT I HAVE ON HAND AT THE TIME. :rolleyes: I ALWAYS TRY AND GIVE ANY AVAILABLE INFORMATION OR MY OPINION ON THE AGE OF VARIOUS EXAMPLES.
THE OBJECT OF THIS TOPIC AND MY OTHERS IS TO PRESERVE AND FORM A ROUGH REFERENCE PRESENTING AS MANY TYPES AND VARIATIONS AS I CAN FIND AS WE GO ALONG.
THE REFERENCE IS INTENDED TO BE AVAILABLE TO ALL SO FEEL FREE TO ADD TO IT OR PERHAPS TAKE PICTURES FROM IT AND ORGANIZE THEM IN ANOTHER POST ON SPECIFIC FORMS OR AGE. THE FIRST POSTS ARE SOMEWHAT ORGANIZED BY TYPE BUT AFTER THAT I TRY TO ADD ANY INTERESTING NEW INFORMATION AND EXAMPLES I FIND. TO GROW AND ADD TO THE REFERENCE BASE IS THE PURPOSE OF SUCH A POST NOT TO PRESENT AN ORDERLY ARTICLE BUT HOPEFULLY GOOD ARTICLES MAY COME FROM IT.
I KEEP HOPING A FORUM MEMBER WILL SURFACE IN FIJI AND ADD ANY PICTURES OF WHAT IS CURRENTLY BEING MADE AS WELL AS INFORMATION FROM THE MUSEUM.

[fireiceviper]

Current clubs are all made for tourists and have been for a long time now, the old culture has long gone with the advance of Christianity in Fiji.

The old clubs that where made where made following the old traditions (or use), the new clubs are made for money (and some of them not in Fiji!) without the carver (or machine) even knowing what he or she is making and why (that's why most modern clubs are so easy to spot!)(except for fakes made to fool people).

The reason why i don't consider them equal is because one is a product of the Fijian culture while the other is a product of Western capitalism. The Fiji form could be made anywhere in the world it wouldn't matter...the original culture is no more...

[VANDOO]

I RECENTLY ACQUIRED A GOOD OLD PERHAPS PRE- CONTACT EXAMPLE OF A FIJI THROWING CLUB. IT IS FOUND IN CLUNIE'S BOOK ON PAGE 62 CALLED A ULA KITU, IT IS A VERY HEAVY THROWING CLUB AND HAS NO CARVED DESIGNS BUT VERY GOOD OLD WEAR AND PATINA. THE HEAD IS SAID TO BE SHAPED LIKE A SMALL WATER POT OR COCONUT WATER CONTAINER CALLED A KITU. THE DRAWING IS ON PLATE 20 ITEM d. MY EXAMPLE IS 15 INCHES LONG

[VANDOO]

A FEW MORE EXAMPLES OF FIJI CLUBS OLDER TRADITIONAL FORMS .
#1. 17.75 INCH OLDER FIJI ULA NICE CARVING AND PATINA
#2.,#3. & #4. FIJI 40 IN. GATA GOOD OLD ONE
#5.,#6. FIJI SALI CLUB 40.5 IN. OLD ONE
#7. & #8. FIJI KINI KINI ,41.25 IN. OLD ONE
#9., #10. & #11. 104 CM. LONG FIJI BULIBULI OLD ONE
#12. NICE OLD FIJI CLUB WITH EXTENSIVE MARINE IVORY INLAYS FORM SIMILAR TO THE BULIBULI CLUB ABOVE.

[VANDOO]

A FEW MORE #1. A NICELY CARVED QUADRANGLE CLUB FIJI OR AFRICA ? I AM NOT FAMILIAR WITH AFRICAN CLUBS SO AM GUESSING FIJI.
#2. FIJI WARRIOR WITH A CULACULA CLUB
#3. 2 CLUBS ONE WITH A FULLY WRAPPED GRIP.
#4., #5. , #6., & #7. A RECENT FIJI ART ULA NOT TRADITIONAL AND LOOKS TO HAVE BEEN STAINED BLACK. MANY FIJI ITEMS WERE MADE BY PEOPLE FROM INDIA LIVING IN FIJI AS THEY RUN MOST OF THE BUSINESSES.
#8. 39.5 INCH FIJI WAKA KIAKAVO, A OLDER EXAMPLE.

[VANDOO]

#1, #2,#3. & #4. A EXAMPLE IF ULA KITU AS DESCRIBED IN A PREVIOUS POST BUT WITH A CARVED GRIP. GOOD OLD EXAMPLE 15 INCHES LONG.
#5. , #6. & #7. A UNUSUAL SHORT FIJI SPEAR OR DART FOR THROWING. I HAVE READ OF THROWING DARTS IN SEVERAL BOOKS ABOUT DIFFERENT ISLANDS BUT THIS IS THE FIRST I'VE SEEN. THERE IS MENTION OF A TIGA DART IN CLUNIES BOOK ON PAGE 63 UNDER THE DESCRIPTION OF ULA GASAU FROM FIGURE 21. PERHAPS THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF A DART. FURTHER RESEARCH OR INFORMATION NEEDED. :confused:
# 8. 1870 PICTURE OF KAI COLO, FIJI WITH ROOTSTOCK CLUB.

[VANDOO]

A FEW MORE FIJI ULA SOMETIMES CALLED VITI THROWING CLUBS SOME EXAMPLES MAY ALREADY BE IN THE ARCHIVE BUT PERHAPS SOME OF THESE PICTURES WILL BE BETTER.
#1. & #2. ULA WITH LARGE INLAY TO HEAD AND BASE OF GRIP
#3. & #4. ULA OR VITI 21 IN. LONG, 53.3 CM. INLAYED
#5. FIJI ULA TE PAPA MUSEUM WELLINGTON N.Z.
#6. ULA WITH IVORY INLAY
#7. RARE ULA SOBA THE SMALL UNUSUAL ONE ,WITH A ULA TAVATAVA
#8. OLD MACE TYPE CLUB SAID TO BE FIJI, HEAVY TONGAN INFLUENCE
#9. 1990 ADD USING A FIJI ULA FOR A GOLF CLUB ADD. JUST FOR FUN :)
#10. HEAVILY INLAYED FIJI CLUB FROM THE MET MUSEUM IN NEW YORK
#11. FIJI SPEAR DANCE
#12. FIJI SPEAR, TIKAU

[VANDOO]

#1.SKETCH OF A TAVO, A RARE FORM OF FIJIAN GATA CLUB HAVING NO SPUR
#2. & #3. FIJIAN TAVO , 93 CM. LONG
#4. FIJIAN TAVO , 40 INCHES LONG
#5. FIJI GATA COMMON FORM WITH MOST OF FIBER WRAP ON SHAFT, 38 IN. LONG, 19TH. CENTURY
#6. FIJI ROOTSTOCK CLUB WITH INTACT FIBER WRAP ON SHAFT 19TH CENTURY, 42 IN. LONG.
#7. FIJI CULACULA 42.25 IN. LONG 19TH. CENTURY, FIBER WRAP INTACT.
#8. FIJI SNAIL FORM CLUB 38 IN. LONG
#9., #10. & #11. FIJIAN ROOTSTOCK CLUB 108 CM. LONG SOME FIBER WRAP PLACED FOR GRIP OR REINFORCEMENT.
#12. FIJI WARRIORS SUVA FIJI 1899

[VANDOO]

#1., #2., #3., #4. EARLY 20TH CENTURY TOTOKIA, 80 cm.
#5., #6., #7. & #8. OLD STYLE TOTOKIA 85 CM. LONG
#9. TOTOKIA FIJI
#10. TOTOKIA MADE OF VESI WOOD
#11. FIJI CLUBS ONE TOTOKIA WITH WHALE TOOTH IVORY SPIKE.
#12. VARIOUS FIJIAN CLUBS

[Battara]

Nice examples Barry. Thank you!

[VANDOO]

#1. FIJI TOTOKIA WITH A LONG SPIKE
#2. & #3. KINIKINI CIRCA 1800 TO 1900 44 IN. LONG , CASUARINA WOOD
#4. & #5. FIJI CULACULA CLUB, 106 CM., CIRCA LATE 18TH CENTURY
#6. FIJI CULACULA DETAIL
#7. FIJI CLUBS OF CULACULA AND KINIKINI FORMS
#8. & #9. A CURRENT FIJI CULACULA FOR TOURISTS, FORM TRADITIONAL BUT
ART A COMBINATION OF TRADITIONAL AND MODERN.
#10, #11. & #12. THREE MORE MODERN CLUBS FIJI

I FIRST NOTED THIS TECHNIQUE USING A BLACK COATING WITH PATTERNS
CUT THRU TO EXPOSE THE WOOD USED IN SAMOAN MODERN CLUBS. I
DON'T KNOW IF SUCH CLUBS ARE BEING MADE IN SAMOA AND FIJI OR
OTHER PLACES AT PRESENT.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THE TECHNIQUE OF BURYING THE CARVED FORM IN MUD TO PRODUCE THE BLACK COATING AND THEN DIGGING IT UP AND DOING THE FINAL CARVED OR SCRAPED PATTERNS IS HOW ITS DONE. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS WAS AN OLD TECHNIQUE FROM SAMOA OR A NEW ONE ?
SO TAKE THIS AS CONJECTURE AS I AM NOT SURE OF THE ACCURACY OF THIS INFORMATION. THE ONLY OLD METHOD I HAVE BEEN AWARE OF FOR MANY YEARS COMING FROM SAMOA AND THE PACIFIC WAS DEEP CHIP CARVING FILLED IN WITH WHITE LIME. LATER BLACK INDIA INK WAS USED ON SOME CLUBS TO HIGHLIGHT THE PATTERNS ON SOME CLUBS FROM THE PACIFIC.

[VANDOO]

#1., #2. & #3. FIJI ROOTSTOCK CLUB WITH WRAPPING 110 CM.
#4. ROOTSTOCK WITH MARINE IVORY INLAY FIJI MUSEUM IN SUAVA
#5., #6., & #7. FIJI ROOTSTOCK CLUB 110 CM. LATE 18TH TO EARLY 19TH
CENTURY.
#8. SEVERAL DIFFERENT CLUBS FIJI MUSEUM SUAVA DISPLAY
#9. FIJI BULIBULI WITH CARVED SHAFT SHOWING TONGAN INFLUENCE.
#10. FIJI VOTOVOTA CLUB, A.K.A. PRICKLY GUTS
#11. FIJI GATA CLUB 41 INCHES WITH FIBER WRAP EARLY 19TH. CENTURY
#12. FIJI GATA, WITH TWO FRONT TEETH FOR EYES

[VANDOO]

#1. MARINE IVORY INLAY TO BUTT END OF A FIJI BOWAI, POLE CLUB
#2. FIJIAN DUI CLUB
#3. FIJI CLUBS TIKI DECOR, ISLANDS RESTAURANT SAN DIEGO. CA.
#4. 3 FIJI KIVAKIO CLUBS WITH INTACT FIBER WRAP ON SHAFTS.
THAT'S ALL FOR NOW.

[VANDOO]

#1. OUR OLD FRIEND CANNIBAL TOM IS BACK POSED WITH A DIFFERENT CLUB FOR THE SEASON. :D
#2. & #3. FIJI 35 INCH CULA CULA CIRCA 1980
#4. FIJI BUL BUL VITI CLUB SET WITH SPERM WHALE TOOTH INLAYS
#5. FIJI ULA THROWING CLUB, 44 CM. LONG
#6. FIJI DRUMS IT APPEARS ANY OLD STICK OR PIECE OF FIRE WOOD CAN SERVE AS A DRUM STICK. :)
#7. FIJI WARRIOR
#8. FIJI WARRIOR WITH TOTOKIA CLUB
#9. FIJI SPURRED CLUB WITH FIBER WRAP
#10. FIJI TOTOKIA
#11. FIJI OLD ULA THROWING CLUB HEAD

[VANDOO]

#1., #2., #3., & #4. FIJI TOTOKIA 19TH CENTURY, 31.5 INCHES LONG
#5. FIJI TOTOKIA
#6. & #7. FIJI OLD CALCULATA CLUB
#8. FIJI LIGHT WEIGHT THROWING HUNTING CLUB
#9.NICE OLD FIJI ULA THROWING CLUB
#10. FIJI TOTOKIA 88 CM. LONG HUMAN FRONT TOOTH OR IVORY INLAYED
#11. & #12. FIJI WARRIORS WITH CLUBS.

[motan]

Totally not my area, but wonderful stuff, as usual.

[VANDOO]

#1., & #2. FIJI GUGU CLUB WITH FULL WRAP, 31.5 INCHES LONG
#3. PRESENTS WERE PRESENTED TO THE CHIEFS AT CERTAIN TIMES. THIS SHOWS SOME OF THE ITEMS PRESENTED ON SUCH OCCASIONS, OVER 7 MILES OF CORD MADE FROM COCONUT HUSKS GOOD FOR MANY THINGS ESPECIALLY RIGGING ON CANOES. MATS, KAVA KAVA BOWLS ,SWEET POTATOES ,ECT. AND PERHAPS A FEW CLUBS. A FEAST USUALLY ACCOMPANIED THE CEREMONY AND FESTIVITY'S.
#4. FIJI TOTOKIA CLUB 88 CM. LONG 1800'S TO MID 1900'S
#5. A MODERN TOURIST CLUB FIJI , FANTASY NON- TRADITIONAL
#6. THRU #10. FIJI CLUB A UNUSUAL FORM THAT I HAVE FOUND NO NAME FOR
#11. A FORM IDENTIFIED AS FROM FIJI, I AM NOT SURE OF THIS ONE AS THE FORM THOUGH UNUSUAL IS FOUND OVER A WIDE REGION.
THANKS FOR THE REPLY THEY ARE ALWAYS WELCOME, ALL OF MY CLUB POSTS ARE AN OPEN REFERENCE SO PICTURES AND INFORMATION ON ANY FIJI CLUBS WOULD BE WELCOME HERE FROM ANY FORUM MEMBERS. IF YOU ARE NOT A MEMBER JOIN UP ITS FREE AND THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE FREE. :D

[drac2k]

I recently acquired several clubs; among these is what I believe to be a Fijian KiaKavo Club. These have been referred to by some as a "Dance Club," however this one is so massive & heavy that is not conducive to dancing; it measures 38" long and it has a 7" circumference on the smallest part of the handle.
I thought it to be an oddball, but once again VANDOO'S thread came to the rescue showing warriors holding similar huge clubs.
In regards to the other two items, at least one or both could be food pounders; they are very heavy and the measure approx. 24" long. Any help would be appreciated.

[Tim Simmons]

Your Fijian club looks rather late but still a very nice example. What a person writes in a book can become the definitive view for the unimaginative. In the 19th century the Fijians may well of danced with their clubs just as much as they spit head open with them. As I say your club does late. What I find far more interesting are the two other clubs far less common and at the time being I do not think they are Fijian, certainly the one with the decorated handle. I need some time to check. Really like the decorated one. I have sold all my Fijian clubs, many are far from rare even ubiquitous especially the Ulas but still command high prices here in the UK. The two interesting will be over looked.

ps. I have made up my mind the two nice clubs are not Fijian. They are from further east of the islands of Fiji

[Tim Simmons]

The club without decoration I feel is certainly from the Solomons. The other has decoration I would think from further south. I had similar form clubs from the New Hebrides but these are not from those islands as far as my collecting experience goes.

[drac2k]

Thank you for your input; the Fijian was listed as 20th century, so maybe WW2 or a little earlier? It is massive and made of a very heavy dense wood, so I don't think it is a "tourist piece," if no other reason than it would not be cost effective to make these and because of the size a major pain to carry home.
In regards to the other 2 pieces, is it your belief that they are not food pounders but clubs? They are also of a very heavy dense wood. The one club with the decoration on the handle reminds me of the handle of a Massim war club with the flat, wide blade, but I couldn't find any examples like mine.

[colin henshaw]

I would say the two shorter items are indeed pestles, probably from New Guinea (Massim area).

[drac2k]

Thanks; Massim Area now has 2 votes.