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Samoan Material Culture

Stone Coconut Graters

Stone Coconut Graters

A number of pieces of stone picked up on house platforms were found to be flat on one surface and chipped from the other rounded or irregular surface to form a curved edge. The shape was unsuitable for adzes and yet the curve had been deliberately worked. The problem was solved by the Samoans diagnosing them as coconut graters (tuai ma'a). Suitable pieces of stone were chipped to form a serrated curved edge which formed a better grater than an even ground edge. The grater was lashed to a wooden stand ('au sa'alo) with the flat surface upwards. A fairly thick implement is shown in figure 217.

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Old stone adzes, retouched by chipping on the bevel side of the edge were also used as graters. A Tutuilan adz so treated is shown in figure 218.

Figure 217.—Stone coconut grater (C. 348):

Figure 217.—Stone coconut grater (C. 348):

a, upper surface, fairly flat; b, under surface; showing fine chipping to form the grating edge; c, cross section; showing fairly flat uppper surface and deep curved under surface.

In Tau, a grater formed from an adz of Type I was lashed with the single lozenge design to a straight handle to demonstrate the method of attaching the stone tuai to the arm of the wooden grater stand. (See Plate V, F.)

Figure 218.—Stone coconut grater formed from adz (C. 587):

Figure 218.—Stone coconut grater formed from adz (C. 587):

a, upper surface; well ground front of old adz of Type I, showing part of sides, narrowing towards poll; curved edge; b, under surface; unground back of adz, bevel ground without distinct chin, edge finely chipped; c, side, showing bevel at lower end.