THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM MAGAZINE. 



289 



A Tomako, or Head-Hunters' Canoe, from 

 the Solomon Islands. 



By William W. Thorpe. 



I 



AFEW years ago the Trustees re- 

 ceived from Mr. Harry Wickhani, 

 of Hobu Peka, Roviana (Rubi- 

 ana), Solomon Islands, a large and beau- 

 tiful example of a " tomako "" or head- 

 hunting canoe . It is a choice specimen of 

 the craftmanship of savage man, and 

 hough made especially for Mr. Wick- 

 ham, is true to type, and was looked 

 upon by the dusky inhabitants of the 

 Roviana lagoon with as much pride as 

 we regard a modern battleship. 



It was greatly to our regret that, 

 owing to its size and unwieldiness, it 

 had to be placed on its even keel in a 

 store, for it seemed practically im- 

 possible to display it in the exhibition 

 galleries. After being there for some 

 time, however. Assistant Taxideimist 

 J. H. Wright, formerly of the Royal 

 Navy, expressed himself as confident 

 that, with proper assistance and equi])- 

 ment, he could place the canoe within 

 the halls. Approval being granted, 

 he essayed the task, and, as is shown, 

 was eminently successful. The Trus- 

 tees of the Museum are much indebted 

 to Warrant-Officer Ottey, of H.M.A.S. 

 Melbourne, and to the Sydney Harbour 

 Trust, for valuable aid and loan of 

 tackle. 



The canoe is a thing of both beauty 

 and intricate construction, measuring 

 forty-six feet in length, with a maxi- 

 mum beam of three feet seven inches. 



Others are recorded ranging from sixty 

 feet long and having a beam of four or 

 five feet. The prow and stern are 

 gracefully curved, the former rising 

 to an elevation of nine feet six inches, 

 while the stern is about eighteen inches 

 higher ; the effect of these is to pro- 

 duce what seems to be an elongated 

 crescent. They are purposely high to 

 protect the crew against arrows and 

 other missiles when advancing or re- 

 treating. Diminutive carvings repre- 

 senting human figures and feather 

 plumes surmount the prow and stern, 



while attached to the 



cutwater is a grotesque 



figure, or tutelar deity, 



whose special function is 



to watch for reefs and 



shoals, and to give due 



warning of the approach 



of an enemy. The bow 



is ornamented with shells 



{Ovulum ovum) and 



toothed sections of the 



Giant Clam ( Tridacna 



gigas) form a row along 



its inner margin. Natica 



s he Us ( Pol i n ices tn a tn m ila ) 



similarly extend along the 



inner margin of the stern. 



The sides of the 



prow and stern are 



elaborately decor- 

 ated with hundreds 



The prow of the canoe, showing the handsome inlaid work and 

 other ornamentation. 



[Photo. — G. C. Clutton. 



