Other formats

    TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

The Material Culture of the Cook Islands (Aitutaki)

Objects made of Cocoanut Shell

page 323

Objects made of Cocoanut Shell.

(1.) Cocoanut Shell Shoes, tamaka ipu. Half cocoanut shells with the holes in the top were used. A strip of rauhara was passed through one of the holes and a cross stick tied to one end on the under side. The strip was drawn tightly through. The child walked about with the ends of the strips in the hands. They stood on the shells with the cord passing between the big and second toes. Children seem to derive much satisfaction in stamping about on them.

Maori children used the shell of the haliotis, paua, for a similar purpose. In this case a strip of flax was passed through one of the natural holes in the shell.

European children may be seen, on occasion, stamping about on the lids of tins. In the case of the native children nature has provided the object and the hole for the strip. The children of a manufacturing people use a manufactured article, through which a hole is driven with a nail and a hammer. There is no difference theoretically, but practically there is the difference between the stone and the metal ages.

(2.) Casting lots, tukituki teniteni. A number of children play at casting lots, seated in a circle. Each has the bottom half of a cocoanut shell, except one. The exception has an upper half with the natural holes in it. The shell with the holes is the deciding factor in the game.

All the children beat time on the ground in front of them, whilst they chant the following verse:—

"Tukituki teniteni,
Tukituki teniteni,
Ki reira ua ra i
To matariki ki ra pa."

Tukituki, in the opening lines, is to beat on the ground. At the last word, pa, all strike the ground, and then pass to the right, and strike the ground in front of the player on the beat of the song. With each beat the shells pass to the right, so that the shell with the hole circulates round. During the passing stage the following verse is chanted:—

"Torutorua paparoroa,
Tohina motu o temu tare.
Temu tare pa teitei,
Kia motu koe
Kia tere pakaru ai to KE."

page 324

On the last word, KE, the last beat is made. Whoever has the shell with the holes in front of him or her becomes the tupapaku, the dead person, or, in other words, is literally out.