The Material Culture of the Cook Islands (Aitutaki)
Four-strand Round Rope, Taura puna
Four-strand Round Rope, Taura puna.
These are made of bast, generally that of the hau. The four ends are first fixed and then two are crossed as in Fig. 68A. As the strand, 2, came from the left and crossed the other, the next strand, 3, must come from the right, and cross over one strand as in B. The principle of the plait may now be enunciated. Every strand coming in must pass round the back in the opposite direction to the last strand that came in. It must pass under the outer strand on its incoming side, and pass over the nearest of the remaining pair. Thus in the combination of three shown in B, the last strand, 3, came in from the right. The next strand, 4, must therefore cross the back to the left, pass under the outer strand, 1, and cross over the nearest of the remaining pair, which is 3. See Fig. 68C.
page 69These ropes were generally used as pig ropes with a modification for passing round the leg.