Detail of the carving on a paddle-club. 



FIJI— The Fiji Islands are situated on what is generally con- 

 sidered to be the border line between Melanesia and Polynesia. 

 For this reason Fijian culture is a blend of features from both 

 major culture areas. The people of Fiji share many customs 

 with other islanders. They make bark cloth and drink kava. 

 Some practices, however, set them apart. Among Fijians the 

 art of war was especially developed and their propensity to 

 indulge in cannibalism has become widely known. 



The forest lands of Fiji possess an abundance of hard and 

 soft wood timber. From this ready stock of raw materials 

 Fijian craftsmen produced a wide range of wooden artifacts. 

 Among these are elaborate war clubs of huge proportions. 

 Long and bulky spears with complicated barbs were shaped 

 perhaps as much to frighten opponents as to harm them. The 

 rough stone adzes used to produce wooden objects seem crude 

 and difficult to manage, but they served well in the hands of 

 the dedicated artisan. Some weapons display intricate in- 

 cised geometric designs, the meaning of which only the carver 

 knew. Others include small stylized human and animal fig- 

 ures which depict a battle scene or a turtle hunt. 



 THIS MONTH'S COVER. 



Pictured on the cover is one of the finest products of Maori 

 workmanship — a neck ornament ("hei-tiki") made of nephrite 

 greenstone. It is one of the three largest ornaments of its kind 

 known to exist and is remarkable for the excellence and delicacy 

 of its form. This outstanding artifact was a gift to the Museum 

 from Captain and Mrs. A. W. F. Fuller of London, England, 

 and may he seen in the new Hall F. 



Head of an axe-bit club. 



Page li 



PRINTED BY CHICAGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM PRESS 



