S.Seas-V- Early African clubs

[VANDOO]

I AGREE WITH FEARN'S POINTS.
IN THE PACIFIC WAR CLUBS SEEMED TO HAVE HAD MORE IMPORTANCE AND PRESTIEGE THAN IN AFRICA. THEY WERE GENERALY LARGER AND OFTEN VERY ELABORATELY DECORATED AND CARVED. THE DECORATIONS ON CLUBS, SPEARS, (SHIELDS WHERE THEY WERE USED) WERE IMPRESSIVE AND NO DOUBT SHOWED THE WARRIORS GREATNESS OR STATUS AND PERHAPS HIS TRIBE. THE DECORATIONS WERE VERY ORNATE AND OFTEN COVERED THE CLUB LIKE THE TATOOS OFTEN COVERED THE WARRIOR. UNFORTUNATELY I HAVE NO KNOWLEGE OF THE STORIES THESE DESIGNS TOLD OR OF THEIR MEANINGS. I FEAR THE KNOWLEGE WAS LOST LONG AGO, THE EXPLORERS LIKE COOK AND OTHERS DID GATHER AS FANCY AN EXAMPLE AS THEY COULD GET THEIR HANDS ON TO BRING BACK FOR MUSEUM COLLECTIONS AND TO MAKE THEIR REPORTS AND PAPERS MORE INTERESTING. THEY ALSO BROUGHT BACK DRAWINGS SOME ACCURATE AND SOME FANCIFUL BUT THEY DID NOT TALK TO THE TRIBES WISE MEN OR CHIEFS AND FIND OUT MUCH OF THEIR TRADITIONS AND WHAT THE TATOOS OR DESIGNS ON CLUBS MEANT AS FAR AS I KNOW.

WRITERS GLORIFIED THE SOUTH PACIFIC AND THE NOBLE SAVAGE OR THEY TALKED OF THE PERILS AND THE DEADLY HEADHUNTERS AND CANNIBALS. THIS INCREASED THE INTEREST IN THE AREA AND ITS ARTEFACTS AND ADVENTURERS, ARTISTS AND WRITERS FLOCKED THERE. IT WAS NO DOUBT THE IN THING TO HAVE A NICE BIG CANNIBAL WAR CLUB AS A CONVERSATION PIECE AT HOME OR AT THE MENS CLUB.
TODAY IN MANY PARTS OR RUAL AFRICA EVERYONE CARRIES A CLUB OR STICK ALL THE TIME. THEY ARE USUALLY NOT DECORATED MUCH BUT ARE VERY FUNCTIONAL AS YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN SOMETHING YOU CAN EAT MIGHT GET IN THROWING RANGE OR YOU MIGHT NEED TO RUN OFF A DOG OR HYEANA OR SOMETHING OR PERHAPS KONK A NEGHBOR WHO STOLD YOUR CHICKEN. IN AFRICA THE CLUBS HAVE NICE FORMS AND VERY DECORATIVE WIREWORK BUT ARE USUALLY OF A SMALLER SIZE AND PLAIN. THE VERY FANCY CARVEING AND DECORATIONS SEEMS TO BE MOSTLY ON STAFFS, SEPTERS AND STUFF FOR CHIEFS OR CEREMONIES. PERHAPS SOMEONE HAS INFORMATION ON WHY THIS IS