284 M'ciiwirs Bern ice P. msliop Miiseiiiii 



of the ordinary type. Tt is probable that a single idea of defilement by contact 

 with the ground underlay this use of elevated beds and the construction of the 

 fata a and toua pou. (pp. 2<J4-5). Tt is interesting to note that in Tonga 

 according to IMcKern (41) the bed of the Tui Tonga was always elevated, al- 

 though it appears to have simply been built up with rolls of tapa. 



HOUSE DECORATION 



In the ]\Iarquesas most dwellings and practically all ceremonial structures 

 were decorated to some extent. The paepac might be decorated w ith ornamental 

 masonry, with figures carved in relief on the kc'efu facing of the raised house 

 floor, or with small stone statues. In the house prcjper the decorations consisted 

 of carved posts, ornamental lashings and occasionally of pigs' skulls. The use of 

 human skulls as house decoration is doulitful. 



DECOR.\TIOX OF THE PAEPAE 



The use of ornamental masonry in dwelling pacpae seems to have been 

 limited to the island of Nuku Hiva. There many of the house platforms had a 

 row of kc'ctu built into the front wall one or two feet below its top. 'J'he kc'etit 

 were laid tiat, with the long edge out, and from a little distance gave the effect of 

 a narrow horizontal stripe or band — the regular width and reddish color con- 

 trasted pleasantly with the darker tint of the rough stones forming the bulk of 

 the platform. Ke'etii so placed may have helped to tie the wall firmlv to the earth 

 and rough stonefill of the pacpae. but long rough stones would have served 

 equally well. In view of the labor retpiired to quarry and transport the kc'efu it 

 seems probable that their ptu'pose was purely ornamental, and a proof of the 

 wealth and influence of the owner of the house. 



Some of the large dressed slabs of stone which faced the front of the raised 

 house floor were carved. Two examples were noted: one in the vallev of Haka 

 Moui, Ua Pou: the other in the valley of Pua Ma'u, Hiva Oa. The Haka ]\Ioui 

 site (32) is very unusual. The pacpae was built with stei)s in three levels, one faced 

 with large ke'cfii. The kc'ctu of the highest step were decorated with a zigzag pat- 

 tern of ornamental adzing, and several of the other slabs bore full tiki figures or 

 heads carved in very high relief. It is said that this structure was the residence of a 

 chief: and became a nic'ac upon his death. The decorations on the kc'efu of the 

 Pua Ma'u site were much less elaborate; the main decoration of its pacpae con- 

 sisted of inset stone figures. On the upper side of one of the slabs facing the 

 house floor a turtle, five inches long, was carved in low relief. The projecting 

 end of the same slab bore a curious oval knob near the top and a beak-like pro- 

 jection at the bottom. This end carving is suggestive of a tenon for the attach- 



[24] 



