Fiji and the Fijians . The variety of spears is very great, and shows the best specimens of na-tive carving, many of the fine open patterns being beautifully executed. The bows, which are about seven feet long, are made from the pen-dent shoots of the mangrove. When the arrows are for killing fish,they have several points, with the barbs cut inwards. A spear is alsomade on the same principle for the same purpose. With the artisans employed in the above manufactures may beclassed those who make pillows—fillets of iron-wood supported on two. PRIEST S BOWL. 60 FIJI AND THE FIJIANS. claw-feet—the
Fiji and the Fijians . The variety of spears is very great, and shows the best specimens of na-tive carving, many of the fine open patterns being beautifully executed. The bows, which are about seven feet long, are made from the pen-dent shoots of the mangrove. When the arrows are for killing fish,they have several points, with the barbs cut inwards. A spear is alsomade on the same principle for the same purpose. With the artisans employed in the above manufactures may beclassed those who make pillows—fillets of iron-wood supported on two. PRIEST S BOWL. 60 FIJI AND THE FIJIANS. claw-feet—the makers of breast-plates, rings, combs, necklaces, andother ornaments. Fancy oil dishes and yaqona bowls, chiefly for the priests, are cut,as well as the cannibal forks, out of very hard wood, and the form-er in a great variety offorms. I have seen onecarved like a duck, anotherlike a turtle, many circu-lar and very flat, with acuriously wrought large bowl for pre-paring yaqona, is very heavy, and is giving place to that of Tonga,which is lighter and prettier. The art of wig-making, in which the Fijian excels and glories,seems to be unknown to the other islanders. The native perruquierimitates to perfection the hair as worn by Chiefs and dandies. Thestyle, however, which he has to copy is considered admirable in propor-tion as it becomes more successfully unnatural; and hence his task ismade easier. Some wigs, except as to colour, closely resemble thebarristers wigs of our own civilized courts, and some have a completeset
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Keywords: ., bookauthorwilliams, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1850, bookyear1859
