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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

#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.

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

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.

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

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/showth...ighlight=maori

THE SECOND ONE OF A SERIES OF 3 ON MAORI SHORT CLUBS
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ighlight=MAORI

3RD http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ighlight=MAORI

4TH. http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ighlight=MAORI

5TH. A USEFUL POST ON NEW GUINEA/ TROBRIAND ISLAND CLUBS.
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ighlight=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/showth...ighlight=MAORI

7TH. DISCUSSION OF UNUSUAL FORM OF MAORI CLUB.
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ighlight=MAORI

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.

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.

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

AN INEXPENSIVE AND COMPACT WAY TO COLLECT FIJIAN CLUBS

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

#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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

Interesting Totokia
 

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.

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

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.

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:

Interesting Totokia
 

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

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.

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

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

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

12 PICTURES OF VARIOUS FIJI ULA THROWING CLUBS.

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!

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