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Ka Hana Kapa. 



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delicacy and beaut}- of the resulting fabric can liardl}- be seen in the illustration which 

 is photographed from kapa No. 2505 in this Museum. I think the fabric was beaten 

 again while still moist and before the thin paste had hardened, it is so firmly- united. 



A notable peculiarit}? of some Hawaiian patterns is the fact that the impres- 

 sions of the stamp form a background while the interstices become the prominent 

 figures. This is shown in the reduced photograph of kapa No. 2469 in this Museum 

 which is also shown in color and full size 

 in PI. Z (frontispiece). In this (Fig. 129), 

 the curious hooked forms were at first a 

 puzzle, and as they were usually called 

 the "fish-hook pattern" a vain attempt was 

 made to find some form of hook that could 

 have suggested the pattern. Mr. Stokes, 

 of this Museum, at la.st solved the riddle 

 very practical!}' b}- making a stamp of 

 which the impression is given in the two 

 detached parts of Fig. 130; the upper 

 showing the careful arrangements of simi- 

 lar adjacent impressions. As this is actual 

 size it will readilv be seen how the result 

 on PL Z is obtained. This was an old time 

 method, all the specimens known being 

 small, choice fragments bearing marks of 

 great age and careful manufadlure. As the 

 size of the stamps precluded the use of 

 native bambu, wood was used and we do 

 not have to discuss whether that grass 

 was indigenous or introduced. In PI. Z is 

 also shown (No. 3) another specimen stamped like the last with a large wooden stamp, 

 but here the stamp is the important part and not the interstices. Still a third has 

 recently come into the possession of this Museum and belongs to the former class; it 

 is shown in PI. ZZ (facing p. 212). 



All these are on thin smooth waoke kapa of a buff color tinted in part with noni 

 root. As this color is rather fugitive the preservation on all these specimens is remark- 

 able and shows that the}' have been carefully kept from light. The method of relieving 

 the heavy black of the stamp b}' easily bored round holes should be noted. In the third 

 example the curved sides of the stamp trace the sides of the prominent pattern. 





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FIG. 129. KATA. B. }'. B. M. 2469. 



