32 



Ka Hana Kapa. 



by coiirtly ears. The rhythm of Tapa-beating imparts therefore as thoroughly a 

 country air to a place in Fiji as that of threshing corn does to our European villages. 

 The Masi tree is propagated by cuttings, and grown about two or three feet apart in 

 plantations resembling nurseries. For the purposes of making cloth it is not allowed 

 to become higher than about twelve feet, and about one inch in diameter. The bark, 

 taken off in as long strips as possible, is steeped in water, scraped with a conch shell, 



Fig. II. THE Fire ceremony: removing the embers, lindt. 



and then macerated. In this state it is placed on a log of wood, and beaten with a 

 mallet (Ike), three sides of which have longitudinal grooves, and the fourth a plain 

 surface. Two strips of Tapa are always beaten into one with the view of strengthening 

 the fibres — an operation increasing the width of the cloth at the expense of its length. 

 It is eas}' to join pieces together, the sap of the fibres being slightly glutinous; and 

 in order to make the junction as perfect and durable as possible, a paste is prepared 

 of arrowroot, or a glue of the viscid berries of the Ton ( Cordia Spreugclii^'^' De Cand.). 

 I have seen pieces of native cloth, intended for mosquito curtains and screens, 



°'See figure in chapter on Material. 



