Sf/ir/ds from Solomon Islands. 



17 



figures, but the inside has a covering of 

 broad (5.5 in.) leaves of the pandanus. 

 Tlie decorations are very remarkable, 

 consisting of twenty-three shell rings 

 78 in. in diameter in two transverse 

 bands, and 3677 smaller shell rings or 

 Ijeads disposed in bands and pendants. 

 The main bands are wholly of white 

 shell, while the pendants arc white, 

 red {Spondylns sp. /) and black, the 

 latter of some vegetable matter at first 

 thought to be coconut shell, but later, 

 some marine growth. The bands are 

 sewed with, and the tassels of the pend- 

 ants strung on fine cord or coarse 

 thi-ead made of two-ply hibiscus fibre. 

 The tassels of the pendants are tipped 

 with perforated, elongated, pointed, 

 black seeds with a hilum extending 

 almost the entire length. Most con- 

 spicuous over all extends a cruciform 

 figure composed of fifteen rosettes of 

 red, black and vellow feathers. This 

 cross seems purely geometrical and not 

 an introdii(?lion of some missionary, for 

 at the time this was obtained no mis- 

 sionary had landed on these shores 

 since Mendana raised the cross and 

 took possession for Spain, and we read 

 that the crosses he erected were at 

 once destro3'ed by the natives. 



When it is considered that the 

 several thousand shell rings had to be 

 bored with a rude pump drill, then 

 strung in numbers on a tough midrib 

 and rolled between stones until round, 

 it will readily be admitted that the 

 great value the islanders attach to such 

 a shield is justified. Two other rattan 



Memoirs B. P. B. Museum. Vol. II, No. i.— 2. 



Fig. 21. SOLOMON ISL.^NDS SHIELD, 



