io6 



Ka Hana Kapa. 



is either a simple tape of kapa untwisted, or more commonly a cord of the same 

 material, or of hau bark, often Avell twisted as a foreign twine. From tlie upper or 

 kilo/iaiia side of the kiiiua this thread does not show, a narrow strip being neatly folded 

 over the seam as shown in Fig. 55, where also the average spacing of the stitches in 

 the better grades of kapa is shown. Athough this seems little more than a basting 

 thread, its strength is considerable, and the sheets would tear sooner than the iinit- 

 ing thread give wa}-. 



When the stitches are greatl}' shortened the suture becomes stronger and better 

 adapted to unite sheets endwise, a sort of running rivet, which was perhaps a ver^- 

 early form of sewing. An example is given in Fig. 56 of a thick tapa dating from 

 the end of tlie eighteenth century. The texture is firm and smooth, and one side is 



FIO. 38. UNDER .SIDE OF A TAHITIAX SEAM. 



decorated with converging stripes of black and crimson on the more finished face. 

 The process seems to have been to place the two sheets finished face to finished face 

 and run the stitches about an inch fn)m the edge and an eighth of an inch apart. 

 The thread is not of the same substance as the sheets, as in the previous examples, 

 but a rolled, not twisted, cord of flattened fibres. When the ends are bent to one side 

 and the sheets spread open the seam presents the appearance shown in Fig. 56. The 

 lower line of stitches on the right of Fig. 56 was a botch, and the right line was con- 

 tinued above, leaving the false track simpl}' in the fold. 



Next I note in the same colleAion a good example of the twining stitch, or the 

 over and over seam, in a thick fluted Tahitian tapa, which is painted red on the under 

 side, which is shown with the seam in Fig. 58. The upper side is painted with nearly 

 black zigzags on a light brown ground; the markings are on alternate flutings. 

 Perhaps a more definite example of the commonest stitching (with a splice in the 



