identified as a blanket, is not displayed. Other specimens of bark 

 cloth from both Oceania and the Americas are displayed in the 

 Nash Lecture Hall in a flat case with a bark cloth beater from the 

 Pacific. In the rare book section of the Economic Botany Library 

 of Oakes Ames of the Botanical Museum, there is a sample book 

 of many pages of pieces of Oceanic bark cloth bound together. 



In addition to these major items, other specimens of plant 

 products related to the manufacture and uses of bark cloth are 

 kept in storage. 



BARK CLOTH DESCRIBED 



As a distinguishing component of diverse cultures, bark cloth 

 cannot be described alone in general terms. Not only are there 

 both similarities and differences between the bark cloth of the 

 tropical Americas and that of Oceania, northeast Asia and 

 Africa, but also there are variants of manufacture and uses within 

 these regions. The question, "Why?" constantly arises. The 

 answer depends on availability of materials; on inter-group con- 

 tacts; on hypothetical or known migrations; perhaps most of all 

 on the myths and legends of a people and the sum of their customs 

 over many generations. 



In Oceania the population of certain islands rather than others, 

 depended on ocean currents and winds and on distances within 

 the limits of navigation by rafts with daggerboards and matting 

 sails, by canoes with outriggers and sails, or by double sailing 

 canoes (catamarans). On the other hand, in the tropical Ameri- 

 cas, rivers and their watersheds and the locations and accessibility 

 of mountain valleys were of paramount significance in the estab- 

 lishment of settlements. 



Like other widespread culture traits that developed in the 

 distant past (such as tattoo and body paint, shamanism and the 

 use of consciousness-altering drugs), bark cloth is similar to a 

 theme and variations in a musical composition. The theme is 

 constant, and the variations develop the possibilities of the theme 

 by means of additions and alterations, or even of new concepts. 



This paper, in addition to stating the theme, considers such 

 variations as are reflected by the designs, colors, and techniques 



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