Images de page
PDF
ePub

tiputa, or a good strong pareu, when preserved from wet, would last several months. Though the native cloth worn by the inhabitants was made by the women, there were some kinds used in the temples, in the service of the idols, which were made by men, and which it was necessary, according to the declarations of the priest, should be beaten during the night.

Although the manufacture of cloth was formerly the principal, it was not the only occupation of the females. Many of the people, especially the raateiras, or secondary chiefs, wore a kind of mat made with the bark of the hibiscus, which they call purau; and the preparation of this, as well as the beds or sleeping mats, occupied much of the time of the females. Great attention was paid to the manufacture of these fine mats. They chose for this purpose, the young shoots of the hibiscus, and having peeled off the bark, and immersed it in water, placed it on a board, the outer rind being scraped off with a smooth shell. The strips of bark were an inch or an inch and a half wide, and about four feet long, and when spread out and dry, looked like so many white ribands. The bark was slit into narrow strips frequently less than the eighth of an inch wide. They were woven by the hand, and without any loom or machinery. They commenced the weaving at one corner, and having extended it to the proper width, which was usually three or four feet, continued the work till the mat was about nine or ten feet long, when the projecting ends of the bark were carefully removed, and a fine fringe worked round the edges.Only half the pieces of bark used in weaving were split into narrow strips throughout their whole length. The others were slit five or six inches at

the ends where they commenced, while the remaining part was rolled up like a riband. These they unrolled, and extended the slits as the weaving advanced, until the whole was complete. When first finished, they are of a beautifully white colour, and are worn only by the men, either bound round the loins as a pareu, or with an aperture in the centre as a tiputa or poncho, and sometimes as a mantle thrown loosely over the shoulder. Their appearance is light and elegant, and they are remarkably durable, though they become yellow from exposure to the weather.

The inhabitants of the Palliser Islands, to the eastward of Tahiti, exceed the Society Islanders in the quality of their mats, which are made of a tough white rush or grass, exceedingly fine and beautiful. They frequently manufacture a sort of girdle, called Tiheri, six inches in width, and sometimes twenty yards in length, but remarkably fine and even, being woven by the hand, but with a degree of regularity rivalling the productions of the loom. They are highly valued by the Tahitians, and are a principal article of commerce between the inhabitants of the different islands.

The sails for their canoes, and beds on which they sleep, are a coarser kind of matting made with the leaves of different varieties of palm, or pandanus, found in the islands. Some kinds grow spontaneously, others are cultivated for their leaves. The matting sails are much lighter than canvass, but far less durable. The size and quality of the sleeping mats is regulated by the skill of the manufacturer, or the rank of the proprietor. Those who excel in making them, use very fine ones themselves. They are all woven by the hand, yet finished with remarkable regularity and neatness.

[graphic][graphic][ocr errors][ocr errors]
[graphic]
[ocr errors]

• heton 1. tou's w

T

-tive 2 16 - vol. i. p.

[graphic]
[graphic]
[ocr errors][ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

Those they
advan

hot first inn iskut,

and ar

ad the lobs

ee Le as a tipura

tuneen loo...

[ocr errors]

'1 and elegant, 3

3 are

only be

elegant, as they are

they become vollow friva

Palliser Islands, to the cast

the Socery Isles in the

bare made of a Jogh white

Accedit ply fine and beutiful. They sert of girdle, led Tiberi. ometimes tyd y ras in

[ocr errors]

length, ba to radit dre end even, Alag wo the band, but with a digger of ngdarity Loll the productions of the loom. Dey are highly by the Tahitians, and are a prbelpa ar is of cons e in tween the inhabitant of the different, is ands The sells for their cuees, and beds on which they sleep, are a coarser kind of batting made with the leave. of different varieties of palm, or paakinus, found 1. 12 i da. Some kinds grow sport:anonsly, others a A tacir leaves. The 1oding sails at a la

..

[ocr errors]

anvess, but for less durable. The Bu of the sleeping mat is regulated by th anufacturer, or the rark the proprietos evel in making them, use very kut pr „thers dres. Fey are all woven by the hand, yet år i bec with remarkable reg larity and neatness.

Thes

[graphic][graphic][merged small][merged small]
[graphic]

Wooden Adze for split- Stone Adzes used by the natives before iron tools were known.-Vol.I. p.390. ing bread-fruit before baking.-Vol.I.p.354.

Tahitian Stool or Seat.-Vol. II. p. 183.

[graphic]
[graphic]
[graphic]

A native Pillow.-Vol. II. p. 181.

« PrécédentContinuer »