. The Australian Museum magazine. Natural history. THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM MAGAZINE. 291. The canoe in process of transference. Note its beautiful lines and sound construction. Seats rest upon the bearers attached to the ribs. [Plioto.âA. Musgrave. of inlaid sections of pearl or Xautilus shell, each piece of which is carefully and accurately carved into various patterns, which harmonise with those adjacent to it. These sections are embedded in the same putty utilised in making the various seams and joints watertight. The process of inlaying is a wearying task. Each fragment has to be either rubb
. The Australian Museum magazine. Natural history. THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM MAGAZINE. 291. The canoe in process of transference. Note its beautiful lines and sound construction. Seats rest upon the bearers attached to the ribs. [Plioto.âA. Musgrave. of inlaid sections of pearl or Xautilus shell, each piece of which is carefully and accurately carved into various patterns, which harmonise with those adjacent to it. These sections are embedded in the same putty utilised in making the various seams and joints watertight. The process of inlaying is a wearying task. Each fragment has to be either rubbed or filed into shape and placed into putty whilst that is yet workable. The workmen who do this shaping are not necessarily skilled. A chief calls upon his dependants to supply these pieces, about one or two thousand per village, which the artist fashions into designs upon the canoe. The Solomon Islanders seem to be the only natives of Melanesia Avho favour this form of decoration. One will find inlay work on many of their productions, and this is an almost infallible guide in locaHzing native handiwork. Clubs, bowls, combs, staves, etc., are treated in this manner ; moreover, the pearl shell is largely used for personal orna- ments such as breast ])endants, the favourite design being the frigate- bird and the bonito. Canoes are generally believed to be 'â dug-outs " or more or less shaped logs from which the centre has been hollowed out. This vessel, however, is a much more elaborate attempt at shi])building, and its lightness and slender lines conduce towards both speed and seaworthiness. In build- ing a â â tomako "" a V-shaped keel is first laid down accurately, and the sides are built upon it in .sections. The planks forming the latter are carefully fitted t o one another, their edges being bevelled and having holes di-illed through them so that they can be sewn tightly together with split cane or the stem of a climbing fern {Lygonia). The seams are ca
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920, booksubjectnaturalhistory, booky
