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The Material Culture of the Cook Islands (Aitutaki)

Pig Ropes, Taura puaka

Pig Ropes, Taura puaka.

Pig ropes consisted of a round four-ply rope with a flat band containing a hole through which the rope was passed, Fig. 67D.

A simple one was made by twisting two long bast strips together at the middle, doubling the twisted part round a stake and crossing the two twists. One of the two strands of the under twist, 1, was passed over one strand, 3, and under the other, 4, of the upper twist which were turned in to meet it. The second strand, 2, of the under twist was then bent to pass under and over the two strands for the other side and thus maintain a check technique with four strands, Fig. 69A. A flat band of four strands was then continued in a check technique. On the left, the marginal strand was turned back over the next strand and page 70on the right, it was turned back under, Fig. 69B. The band was plaited loosely so as not to be too hard on the pig's leg and when about 4½ inches long, the four elements were
Figure 69. Plaiting of pig rope band.

Figure 69.
Plaiting of pig rope band.

continued on as a four-ply round rope made in the manner already described. When of sufficient length, the end of the rope was bound with a thin strip of bast. The band end was removed from the stake and the end of the rope passed through the hole. The rope was drawn closer to a loop, passed over the pig's leg and drawn taut. Thus the pig was tethered with the band round its leg to prevent it cutting.

The better form of pig rope shown in Fig. 67D is made with four strands of bast. At their mid-part they are plaited for about 1½ inches into a round rope. This plaited part is passed round the stake and the four strands from either side plaited into a flat band as before, except that there are eight plaiting strips instead of four. The technique, however, is exactly similar. In the sample figured, the plaited band is almost 1½ inches wide. Four and one-quarter inches from the near edge of the hole, the eight strands are collected into four and plaited into a four-ply round rope. The rope is six-tenths of an inch in diameter.

If flat bands made by a check plait are to be treated as coming under cords and ropes, the band of the pig-rope may be treated as a variety of four-ply rope. Similarly, the second type of band may be treated as an eight-ply rope. There may be other variations that served specific purposes in ancient times, but if so, their name and technique have vanished with the peculiar needs that called them into being.