Rarotonga
(Place)

Mentioned in

Figure 1.—Maps of the Cook Islands: a, locality map of Cook Islands; b, Rarotonga: c, Atiu: d, Aitutaki: e, Mangaia: f, Mauke Figure 10.—Coral and wooden pounders. a, coral pounder, Rarotonga (Bishop Mus., C8883): height middle line, 142 mm.; greatest width of head, 68 mm., thickness 34 mm.; neck, 54 mm. by 41 mm.; base, 124 mm. by 121 mm.; body greatly flared and basal surface very convex. b, side view of a. c, wooden pounder, Aitutaki (Auckland Mus.): height, 292 mm.; base diameter, 63 mm Figure 106.—Triple triangle pattern on working adzes: a , closed triple triangle (British Mus., + 1612), attributed to Rarotonga; c, overlapping triple triangle (Bishop Mus., 8040), Aitutaki. a, haft length 21.75 inches; foot length 4.25 inches, slight dorsal knob (1) on proximal end of shaft; heel with bilateral rounded projections (2), the lashing braid evidently had some fixation turns around the foot and adz butt and then made a couple of vertical turns over heel knobs, after which triple triangle pattern was developed; last vertical turn around shaft, when it reached top was passed around a crossing turn and carried on down to take part in lashing bast collar (3) to shaft; collar (3) formed of strips of hibiscus bast compressed into a roll on back and sides of shaft with free ends hanging down on either side for 94 mm., roll part being 16 mm. in diameter; the braid from adz-head lashing took some wide spirals around collar and some close transverse turns around both limbs below shaft. b, front of heel, shows lateral projection (2, 2) and crossing turns passing over them. c, haft length 15.5 inches, front height 4.25 inches. Haft has rectangular enlargement (1) on haft carved into triangle and lozenge patterns, also on shaft; pronounced heel (2) with median posterior edge and point end cut off; adz head with marked shoulder (3) typical of Aitutaki; pattern with overlapping triangle (4); last vertical turn on far side has braid end tucked in under upper horizontal turns (5); treatment of shaft is post-European Figure 117.—Triangular adz, intermediate; Rarotonga (C8880). a, front: long blade, narrow cutting edge; dropped shoulder, b, back: small bevel surface, straight transversely; median edge extends to poll. c, right side: butt slants backward. d, sections. Weight, 3.25 oz Figure 180.—Hand clubs, Rarotonga: a, total length, 350 mm.: blade (1) covered with zigzag incised lines, edges notched, and two holes near distal edge; transverse width, 115 mm.; right edge (2) width, 80 mm.; shaft (3) also incised with zigzag lines parallel with those of blade; shaft width in middle, 38 mm.; thickness, 21 mm.; raised flange (4) bounding butt ornament (5) of which main motif is two heads in profile (British Mus., 1905, 11-14-2). b, enlarged butt ornament of a: raised bar (4) cut on each edge in alternating angular notches to form raised zigzag bar; butt ornament with two heads (5, 5) in profile with eyes formed by four curved lines and mouth by angular notch, typical of Rarotongan technique; two lateral holes pierced in ear positions with mesial hole between; between holes two raised flanges (6, 6), transversely notched extend to free edge between chins; unnotched flange (7) extends from mesial hole to free edge; greatest width of butt ornament, 60 mm.; thickness, 26 mm. c, similar in all respects to a, butt smaller and with one head of butt ornament broken off through lateral hole; total length, 310 mm.; blade transverse width, 110 mm.; right edge (2) width, 90 mm.; shaft width, 35 mm. (Cambridge Univ. Mus., Z.6073) 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 23.—Rarotongan fan handles (a, plain, attributed to Rarotonga but probably from Aitutaki; b-e, carved with two heads in profile, looking outward from midline of junction): a, round wood, uncarved, 28 mm. in diameter at proximal end, and uncovered part, with shoulder (1) where sennit braid wrapping in lozenge pattern commences; total length of handle including tang, 390 mm. (Cambridge Univ. Mus., Z.6100). b, 1, double head with narrow notch to mark division, eyes formed by five incised curves and mouth by four curves; 2, raised curved flange with square hole in depressed interval between it and heads; 3, raised area pierced by large hole forming segment of circle, and with round hole in interval between it and flange 2; handle beyond for 39 mm. seized with fairly fine two-ply coir cord arranged alternately in two turns of a cord dyed red and an undyed cord; length of carved part 76 mm.; greatest width of heads, 38 mm., and thickness, 19 mm. (British Mus., 6851). c, 1, double head with curved hole marking cranial division; eyes formed by wider incisions than b, and mouth formed by single notch on one side and double notches on other; 2, curved flange closer to heads and notched on either side to form zigzag bar; mesial hole between 2 and 1; 3, raised area with proximal side notched, and large square hole with proximal side also notched; round hole between 3 and 2; 4, extra raised flange with middle part notched to form a zigzag bar, carved part of handle 70 mm. long and greatest width 26 mm.; handle beyond last flange (4) wrapped with fine braid 2 mm. wide, for distance of 40 mm. on diameter of 17 mm.; braid in two sets, one dyed dark red (stippled), other undyed; wrapping arranged in lozenge pattern so that two sides of lozenges in different colors; total length of handle including tang, 342 mm. (British Mus., L.M.S. 218). d, 1, double head divided vertically by narrow groove; eyes and mouth roughly formed by incised curves; 2, curved flange without ornamentation, and round hole between it and heads; 3, plain raised part with large hole, and also hole between it and flange 2; 4, flange with distal edge notched; 5, additional smaller flange with vertical incisions on distal edge; length of carved part 85 mm.; greatest width of heads, 45 mm. due to greater outward inclination of chins; handle beyond carving wrapped with red and yellow sennit in lozenge pattern (Cambridge Univ. Mus., Z.6101). e, 1, double head with eyes and mouth formed by curved incised lines and separated by single vertical line; 2, series of four bilateral angular projections with triangular depressions to the inner side pierced at bottom with round holes; 4, distal raised flange with zigzag raised bar; length of carved part 89 mm.; greatest width of heads, 41 mm.; width of distal flange (4) 32 mm.; handle beyond carving wrapped in red and yellow sennit in lozenge pattern (Cambridge Univ. Mus., Z.6102) 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 264.—Polynesian fan outlines. a, Aitutaki. b, Rarotonga. c, Mangaia. d, Tahiti (British Mus., Tah. 69), same technique as a and b. e, Marquesas, curved sides and twilled plaiting. f, Hawaii (Bishop Mus., C9232), found in burial cave, closed leaflets in check, triangular shape conforming to central Polynesian type. g, Hawaii (Bishop Mus., 7965), specialized form of fine fan peculiar to Hawaii. h, Samoa, reversed triangle with straight base on handle and curved sides; twilled plaiting. i, Samoa, reversed triangle with slanting base and curved sides Figure 274.—Polynesian wooden images, front and side views. a, Rarotonga, fisherman's god (Peabody Mus., Cambridge, Mass., 53517). b, Aitutaki, goddess (British Mus., L.M.S.). c, Tahiti, sorcerer's image (ti'i) (British Mus., 7047). d, Raivavae, Austral Islands (British Mus., 54-12-29-120). e, Marquesas (Bishop Mus., 3020) f, New Zealand, carved figure with face tattooing pattern (Oldman coll., 14). g, Mangareva, god (La Rochelle Mus., H.498). h, Easter Island, carved figure (moai kava-kava) (Oldman coll., 343). i, Hawaii, goddess (Bishop Mus., 9072). j, Tonga, goddess (Oldman coll., 530) Figure 310.—Types of Samoan points, with Mariannas and Rarotonga points: 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 72.—Tattooing motifs from Rarotonga. a, rau teve, on Tupai, on left side of neck but transposed in drawing to right side for comparison with b: 1, rau teve with three lobes and small lozenge-shaped space left untattooed; 2, hour-glass motif with triangular spaces not filled in on each side; four to the middle line (3) with one on other side when Tupai refused to allow second half to be completed. b, rau teve of Pakitoa on right side: 1, rau teve with four lobes with upper part touching lower end of mastoid bone (4) and end 16 mm. from attachment of ear lobe (5); 2, hour-glass motif of which there are four, but midline of neck (3) passes through middle of fourth, c, rau teve of Tai Uritaua on right with four-lobed leaf and six hour-glass motifs of which the sixth (6) reaches the midline of the neck and the next (7) on the other side is outlined, not filled in. d, ruru: wrist pattern which completely encircled the right forearm of Pakitoa at the lower end of the radius; lines 1 mm. thick. e, ruru: pattern on back of left wrist of Pakitoa 56 mm. long, f, 'etu (star): five-pointed star on back of left hand of Pakitoa on ulnar side with rau teve on radial side; same as Mangaian maurua motif Figure 78.—Triangular adz, variation 1, Rarotonga (C2753). a, front: long butt, dropped shoulder; b, back: bevel surface straight, median edge to poll; c, right side; d, sections. Weight, 8.25 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 Figure 85.—Triangular adz, intermediate, Rarotonga (C8848). a, front: long blade with practically parallel sides an deep dropped shoulder, butt with nicely rounded lateral edges and squared poll end; b, back: bevel surface concave with apical point fairly high and median edge continued to poll; c, right side: shows deep dropped shoulder and extension of shoulder down sides; d, sections. Weight, 65 oz Figure 86.—Triangular adz, intermediate, Rarotonga (C2390). a, front: blade polished, butt with pecked surface and well-rounded lateral edges, dropped shoulder with lateral extensions; b, back: bevel surface straight transversely and markedly convex longitudinally; median edge extends to backward slant of poll surface, c, right side: shows depth of dropped shoulder and extension down on side, d, sections. Weight, 8.25 oz Figure 92.—Quadrangular adz, type 1; Rarotonga (C2754). a, front surface: straight transversely and convex longitudinally; gradual increase in width from poll to cutting edge; slight rounding off of front edges of butt by pecking. b, back: shows narrower back surface and shortened view of sides, also bevel surface and chin. c, right side: shows increasing thickness from poll to chin. d, cross sections with front uppermost. Weight, 7.75 oz Figure 93.—Quadrangular adz, type 1; Rarotonga (C518). a, front surface: straight transversely, convex longitudinally; front edges of butt continuous with those of blade and not rounded off; increase in width from poll to cutting edge. b, back: shows narrow back surface and shortened view of sides; quadrangular bevel surface with chin. c, right side: increasing thickness to bevel of chin. d, sections. Weight, 3.5 oz Figure 95.—Quadrangular adz, type 2; Rarotonga (C8961). a, front surface: shows shoulder with slight downward curve at sides; blade convex transversely and longitudinally; increase in width downward; front side edges well marked on blade, rounded off on butt. b, back with well-marked side edges on blade and butt; bevel surface concave transversely with gradual slope onto back, without distinct chin; cutting edge distinctly curved with convexity forward; back surface slightly wider than front. c, right side: shows the backward slant of butt making back concave longitudinally from poll to bevel surface. d, sections. Weight, 4.75 oz Figure 96.—Quadrangular adz, type 2; Rarotonga (C8960). a, front: shows short blade and curved shoulder with convexity upward; well-defined front edges; front butt surface and sides ground down to form tang. b, back: back edges clearly defined on blade and butt; back straight transversely and concave longitudinally; quadrangular bevel surface and straight chin. c, right side: shows thickness of adz, shoulder, concave back longitudinally, and angle of chin. d, cross sections. Weight, 5.75 oz Figure 97.—Quadrangular adz, type 2 with nipples; Rarotonga (C8962). a, front: shows shoulder and two nipples; front edges of blade well defined and front edges of butt well rounded off. b, back: back edges well defined on blade and butt. c, right side; showing deep shoulder and forward projection of nipples. d, section. Weight, 3.75 oz Figure 99.—Quadrangular adz, type 3; Rarotonga (C8871). a, front: narrower front surface well defined by side edges on lower two-thirds of blade, upper third and curved shoulder somewhat rounded off; butt with front surface and side edges rounded off in concave longitudinal curve leaving a single rounded nipple in middle line near poll; cutting edge chipped on left side and thus breaking normal curved line of original cutting edge. b, back: posterior surface of blade and butt occupies full width of back with side edges well defined; bevel surface slopes into back without a defined chin and toward cutting edge, surface is slightly concave transversely. c, right side: shows poll nipple and shoulder on front and long concave curve formed by butt and blade which changes to convex with forward grinding of bevel surface. d, sections. Weight, 22.5 oz GOVERNMENT RADIO STATION, Rarotonga Plate 12 — A, Slings and Sling Stones, Rarotonga (Auckland Mus.); C, Sling Stone Carriers, Rarotonga (Bishop Mus., C8860); B, D, Net Food Carriers, Aitu (Bishop Mus., C2867, 2868) Plate 13 — Wooden Images of Gods: A, B, Goddess, Aitutaki (British Mus., L.M.S.); C, Staff God, Rarotonga (Cambridge Univ. Mus., 101); D, E, Fisherman's God. Rarotonga (Munich Mus., 191) Plate 1 — Groups in Native Dress: A, Rarotonga, Priest Seated in Middle B, Aitutaki, Men Wearing Plaited Baldrics 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.) Plate 6 — Clothing: A, Tapa Beater, Aitu, Four Sides (Bishop Mus., C2814); B, Perforated Poncho, Mangaia (Bishop Mus., 8059) C, Plaited Girdle. Rarotonga (British Mus., 9963); D, E, Coiled Cap, Aitu (Bishop Mus., C2849) Plate 7 — Feather Headdresses: A, Aitutaki (British Mus., L.M.S.); B, Rarotonga (British Mus., L.M.S.); C, Makea-Ariki Family, Rarotonga; D, Probably Aitu (British Mus., L.M.S., 120) Raratonga

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