14 



BRIG HAM ON H AWAIT AN FEATHER WORK. 



Augustus Hamilton, an old friend, then Director, since deceased, I obtained photographs 

 of this with the other specimens of this fine collection of Cook relics which are here 

 presented. The first, Fig. 13, shows the upper surface of the hat with its covering of 

 red iiwi feathers relieved by a generous border of 00 yellow feathers on the outer rim 

 and a narrow band around the body of the hat. The second, Fig. 14, shows the under 

 surface with the entire rim covered with the feathers, and the third gives a clear idea 

 of the basket work of the structure and of the somewhat decaj^ed network to which the 



FIG. 14. INSIDE OF FEATHER HAT. 



feathers are directly attached (Fig. 15). The weight of the structure is rather too great 

 for comfort, and I doubt if the officers for whom these feather-covered baskets were made 

 ever wore them, but it can be plainly seen that the workmanship was strong and skill- 

 ful; we may well believe that they were a labor of love for the foreigners whom they at 

 first worshipped and who later treated them so badly and left them so deadly a legacy. 

 The structure is of wound basket work of great strength such as was often used in 

 making the mahiole or helmets, and was made wholly independent of the feather cover- 

 ing, the latter being also made apart and later fastened to the basket by sufficient loops 

 of fibre. Note also the figure of the same hat shown on the title-page. 



