Net ]]^ork oj tlir Haivaiians. 105 



of barter thej- were brought everywhere to the early European and American explorers 

 of this ocean, and being portable were brought home. 



No dates can be assigned to any of the methods used or patterns produced in 

 Pacific basketry, nor can it be declared which branch of the Polynesian family origi- 

 nated or taught any especial mauufa6lure either of basket or mat. Legends are merelj- 

 indications with little or no historic value. 



The stud}' of both mats and baskets of the Pacific is far from complete, and if it 

 were possible to make larger and broader collec^tions, much that is interesting and also 

 valuable would be brought to light. In all branches of basketrj- pertaining to our 

 region this Museum is constantly making colleftions, but at present only the Hawaiian 

 division seems fairl}- complete. 



Hawaiian Nets and Nctiiiig. By John F. G. Stokes, Curator 

 of Polynesian F.tlinoloffv in tlic Bisliop Muscnm. 



AS WITH most, if not all, primitive races, the Hawaiians had a knowledge of the 

 art of netting which the}' had brought to a high standard, of excellence before 

 the general influx of the foreigners. They had even gone so far as knitting, 

 making a very complicated knot without tools. If mat making evolved the loom, 

 then netting was the forerunner of lace making, but the natives' art had not reached 

 this point. 



Nature has been bountiful to these people in its supply of raw material for their 

 cord, giving them the fibrous husk of the coconut, the sedge a/itiaiua ( Cvprrns /iTi'i^at//s), 

 and the bast fibres of the //a// {Paritiuni tiliaccuni)^ luaolcc {Bronssonrtia papyri/era), 

 and, most valuable of all, olona ( Toncliardia lati folia) ^ which is ver}- strong, light and 

 durable. In addition to the foregoing, several grasses were pressed into service for 

 braiding into I'opes for house building. And human-like, discontented with much, or 

 perhaps pandering to the love of ornamentation, or, it may be^ — let us allow for higher 

 sentiments — wishing to keep in memory dear friends, hiiman hair was frequently 

 braided or twisted into patterns in many of their ornaments. Iii more modern times, 

 horsehair has been spun and used with other cord in some of the /;o/^o panpun. 



The preparation of the coir was simple, merely requiring the separation of the 

 fibres of the husk, and, when spun or braided into cord, was highly esteemed for the 

 lashing of canoe outriggers on accoiTUt of its presumed durability in salt water. For 

 fish nets it was seldom used, not being as strong nor as pliable as the more favored 



