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Cook Islands
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Figure 1.—Maps of the Cook Islands: a, locality map of Cook Islands; b, Rarotonga: c, Atiu: d, Aitutaki: e, Mangaia: f, Mauke Figure 133.—Cook Islands paddle (British Mus., 1912-123). a, with handle shortened: total length, 2,020 mm.; shaft length, 1,070 mm.; shaft diameter at upper end, 43 mm.; at shaft junction, 52 mm. by 41 mm.; blade length, 950 mm.; width at shoulder, 128 mm.; greatest width, 250 mm. b, enlargement of upper part of blade: shows zigzag incised lines for depth of 102 mm. on both surfaces and on side edges which are 23 mm. thick. c, lower end of blade: shows median ridge, 9 mm. wide, 4 mm. thick and 104 mm. long on one surface and 96 mm. on the other Figure 187.—Cook Islands spears, a, Atiu spear (Fuller coll., 3120): four-edged point; remaining length, 1,720 mm.; greatest width of blade point, 41 mm. and thick ness, 21 mm.; lower end of shaft, 33 by 31 mm. b, Atiu vero (in field): length, 12 feet, 4 inches; leaf point (1), 4.7 inches long, greatest width, 1.5 inches and thickness, 0.65 inch; middle shaft diameter, 1.6 inches; lower leaf point (2), 4.3 inches long, greatest width, 0.8 inch, thickness, 0.5 inch. c, Atiu vero (in field): length, 11 feet 7 inches; rounded point (1) to flange, 7 inches long; middle shaft diameter, 1.4 inches; lower rounded point (2), 28.25 inches to flange. d, Rarotongan tao (Vakatini family): length, 9 feet 9 inches; point (1) with seven serrations on one side, length from tip to first serration 4.25 inches, from first to last serration 13.75 inches; diameter beyond last serration nearly 1 inch; blunt lower end (2) diameter not quite 0.5 inch. e, Rarotongan tao termed ni'o pongaponga (Vakatini family): length, 9 feet 2 inches; point, 18 inches long; point four sided and notched in middle of each surface to form series of short four-pointed barbs, most directed toward shaft but some reversed; order of barbs from tip, two normal, space, one reverse, six normal, space, one reverse, seven normal, space, one reverse; point bounded by transverse flange (1); flange and adjacent shaft (2) carved with small triangles and zigzag lines. f, flange (e,1) and shaft (e,2) showing carving motifs. g, cross-section of four-pointed barb. h, Mangaia (Auckland Mus., 9615): spear pointed at each end, decorated with bands of flat sennit; length, 1,750 mm.; middle diameter, 25 mm. i, band technique of h; commencement band of 23 turns; following bands four turns; continuous sennit, same technique as figure 116, a Figure 188.—Cook Islands slings. a, Atiu technique of pouch: 1, sennit, forming margin; 2, coir cords in pairs caught in close rows of two-pair interlocking weft (4); 3, coir cords separated and caught simply in two-pair interlocking weft (5). b, Rarotongan sling (Bishop Mus., C8861): pouch (1) formed of nine lengths of sennit, plaited in check from middle toward either end; length, 145 mm.; middle width, 50 mm.; at ends, braid plaited into round plait (2) 70 mm. and bound with two-ply coir cord (3); sennit lengths cut off except three which are plaited in a three-ply braid (4) to form strings 12 mm. wide and 4 mm. thick; length of strings, 790 mm. and 1,000 mm.; string ends lashed with coir fiber. c, Rarotongan sling (Bishop Mus., C8862); pouch (1) shown in part with 11 lengths of sennit plaited in check: at each end the 11 lengths are gathered together and bound with coir two-ply cord (2) for a distance of 30 to 40 mm.: braids cut off except three which are plaited in three-ply braid (3) to form strings and ends lashed with coir fiber: pouch length, 210 mm. and width, 66 mm.; length of strings, 820 mm. and 975 mm.; strings 12 mm. wide and 5 mm. thick Figure 189.—Cook Islands sling stones (Bishop Mus.): Measurements in millimeters. Locality Museum no. Material Diameters (mm.) Weight (oz.) a Rarotonga C521 basalt 63 × 63 15.5 b Rarotonga C8857 basalt 84 × 84 28.0 c Atiu C515 basalt 48 × 48 6.25 d Mauke C2720 stalagmite 82 × 88 26.5 e Mangaia C2775 coral 50 × 50 5.75 f Mangaia C2774 coral 52 × 64 8.0 Figure 19.—Cook Islands seats. a, small Atiu type (Bishop Mus., C8882): seat (1), 19 inches long at sides and 18.75 inches in middle; width, 9.25 inches at ends, 8.75 inches in middle; edge 0.5 inch thick; height above ground, 4 inches in middle, and 6.12 and 6.62 inches at ends: leg (2) curved, heart shaped in section, with edge (3) toward middle transverse line; foot (4) expanded, heart shaped, with apex toward middle line. b, long Aitutaki type (Auckland Mus., 12994): seat (1), 7 feet, 9 inches long, width, 17.5 inches; carved edges; legs (2) straight circular with edge (3) toward middle; no feet, but slight flaring toward lower end. c, seat of Pa Ariki, Rarotonga: height about 18 inches; seat (1), length, 27 inches at sides and 1.37 inches less in middle line; width at ends, 21.62 and 21.25 inches, in middle 20.25 inches; pedestal (2), circumference in middle, 38 inches; base (3) rectangular with corners rounded off, 17 inches by 16.5 inches; stepped edge (4) of seat, 2 inches thick and lower edge of two planes notched (5) Figure 24.—Cook Islands fan (British Mus., L.M.S.). a, outline; length of plaited part, 395 mm.; base width, 430 mm.; length of external handle, 130 mm. b, front, showing short butt knobs (1, 1), raised flange (2) divided in middle line, rounded body (3) with large perforation, bilateral curved flanges with lower end (4) incised with chevrons and upper end (5) notched, terminal flange (6) with perforation below it, and plain lashing (7) of fine cord. c, side view with same numbering as b; upper end (5) of curved flange has a geometrical pattern resembling carving of Atiu and Mauke Figure 257.—Rim projection of bowls: a, Cook Islands; projection rectangular in vertical section and full thickness of rim (see exception in figure 4, a), b, Tahiti; projection triangular in vertical section, full thickness of rim at base, and carved with median and lateral lines in manner reminiscent of markings on head of stone pounders (fig. 10, c, d). c, Austral Islands; projection not full thickness of rim, curved at ends, and stepped, d, Austral Islands (Raivavae); projection carved in circles at ends and stepped. 1, from above; 2, vertical section; 3, side view Figure 258.—Polynesian stone pounders: pestle form (a-c); medium form (d-e), flared form (f-i). a, Cook Islands, lateral projecting head with three low ridges (Bishop Mus., 6531). b, Mangareva, rounded circular head (Bishop Mus., C7632). c, Society Islands, laterally expanded head with three high ridges (Bouge coll.). d, Mangaia, head with lateral projections, flat upper surface, concave longitudinally; calcite (Bishop Mus., B3489). e, Austral Islands, head similar to d but with upper surface rounded; basalt (Bishop Mus., B4677). f, Society Islands, head projected laterally with two side ridges very high (Bouge coll.). g, Society Islands (Maupiti), head with long, horizontal side projections, upper surface concave longitudinally and convex transversely; lower surface flat (Bouge coll.). h, Marquesas, head forms rounded knob carved with two human heads back to back (Bouge coll.). i, Hawaii, rounded head more pronounced than h; bottom surface markedly convex (Bishop Mus., C1929) Figure 259.—Tahitian pounders found in Cook Islands: a, Atiu (Otago University Mus., D.34, 399). b, Rarotonga, owned by Makea Ariki. c; Mauke (Otago University Mus., D.34, 559). d, head of type c. Measurements in millimeters. Dimensions Height Head Width Neck Base Weight (oz.) a 155 83 42 119 53 b 142 124 46 141 c 165 97 50 138 77.25 Figure 260.—Types of small four-legged seats. a, type one, Cook Islands (British Mus., 1905/1-20/4): 1, curved seat with slight concavity at ends, not carved; 2, leg heart shaped with edge (3) toward middle line; 4, foot heart shaped with point toward middle. b, type two, Tahiti (Bishop Mus., C4190): 1, seat with little curve, straight ends; 2, straight legs, round in section but with edge (3) to outer side; no feet. c, type two, Tahiti (Royal Swedish Mus.): 1, seat with greater curve than b, concave ends; 2, legs round in section but with vertical edge (3) to outside; no feet. d, type three, Austral Islands (British Mus., Tah. 3): 1, seat with great curve, concave ends; raised plane in middle at ends (5), and carved edge; 2, legs heart shaped, with edge (3) toward middle; 4, round foot. e, distinctive Tuamotuan seat (Bishop Mus., 5973): 1, flat seat with straight ends; 2, long legs rounded in section set close to ends of seat; 4, no feet but lower ends flared to roughly rectangular shape; 5, rung between legs Figure 261.—Types of house ridgepole support, a, median ridgepost, Cook Islands. b, kingpost with tie beams supported by two lateral posts, Samoa. c, kingpost with tie beam supported by wall plate, post-missionary. 1, median ridgepost; 2, ridgepole; 3, wall posts; 4, wall plate; 5, principal rafters; 6, lateral supporting posts; 7, plate supporting tie beam; 8, tie beam; 9, kingpost; 10, plates resting on ends of tie beam and supporting rafters; 11, median plate supporting kingpost. — Note: the second ridgepole, purlins, and thatch rafters are omitted. The Samoan rafters are curved and kept in position by collar beams which are also omitted Figure 265.—Polynesian cloth beaters (ike, i'e): a, Atiu, Cook Islands; b, Mangaia, Cook Islands, finishing beater; c, Tahiti; d, Marquesas; e, Austral Islands, general form; f, Tubuai, Austral Islands, crossed pattern; g, Rapa, crossed pattern; h, Hawaii, general form; i, Hawaii, zigzag pattern; j, Mangareva, showing wide smooth surface (1) and narrow grooved surface (2); k, Easter Island; l, New Zealand; m, Tonga Figure 269.—Distribution of haft types, with literature citations. References for Polynesia are as: 1, toe haft: New Zealand (6, pp. 383, 393); Hawaii (11, pl. 60); Marquesas (47, pl. 48, A); Tuamotu (Emory ms.); Easter Island (Bishop Mus. Hafts); Manihiki-Rakahanga (75, pp. 144, 145); Tongareva (74, p. 180) Niue (48, pl. 8, A); Samoa alternate form (73, p. 362); Austral Islands alternate form (1, pp. 158, 159). 2, medium haft: Samoa (73, pp. 360, 361); Tonga (Bishop Mus. Coll.); Pukapuka (3, p. 165); Futuna (17, pl. 128); New Zealand, specialized form in some jade adzes (13, p. 16, fig. 8). 3, heel haft: Society Islands (13, p. 153, fig. 134); Austral Islands (13, pl. 13, fig. 5, d); Cook Islands (figs. 106, 111). For the neighboring parts of Oceania, the type hafts were obtained from specimens in Bishop Museum Figure 272.—Polynesian bailers. a, common form with median free handle, used in Tuamotu, Marquesas, Samoa. b, handle end attached to bottom, Niue, Ellice Islands. c, unilateral attachment of handle, sporadic in New Zealand and other regions. d, bilateral connection of handle to sides, Tahiti (British Mus., Tah. 6): length, 435 mm.; outside width, 135 mm.; depth, 110 mm.; width of cross connection, 40 mm. e, Cook Islands form, Mauke (fig. 135, d-f). f, specialized New Zealand form of a Figure 273.—Polynesian drums. a-d, direct upper attachment; e-h, indirect upper attachment. a, Aitutaki, Cook Islands, see figure 168: lower slot attachment. b, Tahiti, Society Islands (Cambridge University Mus.): lower slot attachment; height, 20.5 inches; upper diameter, 7.75 inches; lower diameter, 8.5 inches. c, Raivavae, Austral Islands (British Mus., L.M.S. coll.): lower attachment to rectangular slots with another row of unused rectangular slots above engaged slots; lower third carved; height, 49 inches; diameter, 14.25 inches. d, Raivavae, Austral Islands (Cambridge University Mus.): lower attachment to carved knobs (1); woodwork carved below knobs and ends in lower row of rectangular slots (2), no longer used for attachment. e, Mangareva (Museé de St. Germain): indirect upper attachment to loops of single circumferential braid and lower attachment simply looped around short projecting knobs (1) on lower rim; height, 41 inches (for details see 77, p. 401). f, Fagatau, Tuamotu (Bishop Mus., B3692): shark-skin cover missing but single circumferential braid (1) remained in position with tautening braids looped over it; lower attachment to hoop (2) and lower ends of braid carried down in some pattern which has become disarranged; height, 47 inches. g, Marquesas (Bishop Mus., 8001): upper band (1) of circumferential braid which passes through alternate slits in skin cover in ten courses to form continuous band, five braids externally and five beneath cover; tautening braids (2) passed through loops so formed and lower ends attached to hoop (3) fastened to body of drum through large (4) and small (5) slots: turns of flat coir plaiting (6) used to cover knots to hoop have slipped out of position, h, Hawaii (Bishop Mus., 4849): tautening braids passed around lozenge-shaped loops (1) formed of olona fiber cord and attached below around vertical parts (2) of open woodwork; height, 15 inches; top diameter, 12 inches Figure 4.—Cook Islands wooden bowls. Small beaker bowl without legs, (a, b) Mangaia (Cambridge University Mus., Z.6077), from G. Bennet, July 1824: a, rim opening, length 10 inches, greatest width 7 inches, showing pointed end (1) and base (2) with upward projecting knob (3); outer rim edge rounded off and inner edge inverted and sharp, making greatest diameter a little below upper rim; b, side view, height 3 inches. Medium-sized beaker bowl with legs, (c-e) Aitutaki (Bishop Mus., C8920): c, rim of opening, length 25 inches, greatest outside width 14 inches, rim 0.37 inch thick at sides, 1.12 inches at base (2), no upward projection; d, side view, height at base (2) 4 inches, height at pointed end (1) 5.37 inches; e, under side, showing four short rectangular legs and edge (4) extending from pointed end to under surface. Bowl intermediate between round and beaker, without legs (f, g), Atiu (Bishop Mus., C2833): f, rim opening, length 13 inches, greatest width 11 inches, rim thickness 0.5-0.75 inch., upward rim projection (3) at base (2) 1.75 inches long and full thickness of rim, groove (5) at pointed end (1) 0.25 inch deep; g, side view, height 8.25 inches, showing rim projection (3) and groove (5). h, large round bowl without legs, owned by Parua-rangi Ariki of Atiu. Medium round bowl with legs (i, j), Aitutaki (Bishop Mus., C8919): i, rim opening, 17.5 inches in diameter, rim 0.75 inch thick; j, side view, height 7.25 inches, four round legs. Small elliptical bowl (k, l), Atiu (Bishop Mus., C2834): k, rim opening, length 14.5 inches, width 8.12 inches, shallow pouring groove (5) at one end and sennit loop (6) for hanging up at other; l, side view, height 3.62 inches, in middle and 4 inches at loop end. Large elliptical bowl (m, n), Atiu (Royal Scottish Mus., Edinburgh, 1895.359): m, rim opening, total length 12 feet, opening length 10 feet, 9 inches, outside width 38 inches, inside width 31.5 inches, rim projection (3) not full thickness of rim, carved at both ends with curved lines, one end (1) somewhat sharper and point cut off to form a triangular surface (7) from apex of which a median edge (4) extends downward; n, side view, greatest inside depth 26 inches, capacity Figure 7.—Cook Islands basaltic pounders: a, simple concave head (Auckland Mus. 12868); b, c, simple convex head, Atiu (Bishop Mus. C2773); d, e, three-ridged head, smooth curve back and front (Bishop Mus., C2287); f, three-ridged head with concave crescentic edge (1) extending from lateral ridges (Auckland Mus. 12279); g, h, three-ridged head with straight edge (1) lower down (Bishop Mus., 6531); i, j, three-ridged head greatly projected upward from defining edge (1) (Bishop Mus., 6532); k, three-ridged head with median vertical edge (2) running down on neck, Rarotonga (Otago University Mus. D.28.236); l, m, three-ridged head with median ridge greatly projected upward, and lateral ridges projected outward instead of up, Atiu (Bishop Mus., C2772); n, o, four-ridged head with crescentic edge (1) evenly grooved (Bishop Mus., B3497); p, q, two lateral projections and wide median flat projection evidently meant to be grooved with median notch to form four-ridged type (Bishop Mus., C4893); r, s, four-ridged head with low median notch and crescentic edges (1) (Bishop Mus., C4892). Dimensions in millimeters: Height Head (transverse) Neck Base Weight (oz.) a 170 50 44 68 34.25 b, c 167 45 39 88 46.5 d, e 163 54 44 72 34 f 153 54 43 82 39.5 g, h 194 61 49 79 53 i, j 186 47 40 72 40 k 235 70 44 84 59 l, m 173 60 48 86 44.5 n, o 144 50 33 71 24.5 p, q 119 42 35 77 23 r, s 129 47 37 80 30 average 160 51 41 79 39 Figure 75.—Triangular adz, with raised shoulder, Cook Islands (B3522). a, front: increase in width from poll to cutting edge, raised shoulder between blade and butt which are on same plane; b, back: concave bevel surface and median edge extending to poll; c, right side, raised shoulder evident in profile, side edges of butt rounded off;d, sections. Weight, 9.75 oz Figure 8.—Cook Islands basaltic pounders, small bulbous type: a, head with convex curve (Bishop Mus., 6533); b, head with concave curve, Rarotonga (Otago University Mus., D.27.50); c, three-ridged head, Aitutaki (Otago University Mus., D.33.2062); d, unique with four projections, Rarotonga (Otago University Mus., D.35.352); e, three-ridged head, one lateral ridge broken, made of stalagmite, Aitutaki (Auckland Mus., 10713). Dimensions in millimeters: Height Head Neck Base Weight (oz.) a 122 42 34 75 24 b 105 37 28 60 15.12 c 120 47 31 69 20.37 d 125 40 35 80 30.37 e 97 46 33 68 15 PACIFIC WRITERS SERIES Plate 4 — Fans: A, B, Aitutaki (Bishop Mus., 2167); C, Rarotonga, Back (Cambridge Univ. Mus., Z.6101); D, Cook Islands, Front (British Mus., L.M.S.) “We know that whenever there's a gathering such as this, it's usually men who are invited to attend. So to me, sometimes, it would appear that only men are the ones able to speak and that only men know how to speak, and that it would be men who know what is best for the home. Perhaps at the end of this conference, men will know that women are able to speak too.” Matakai Ariki Wichman (Cook Islands) “Women do not preach from the pulpit—only men do that. I often wonder why this is so, especially since women clean and sweep the pulpit. If only men are allowed to preach from the pulpit then why can't they sweep and clean it?” Ataiti Ama (Cook Islands)

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