Linton — TJic Marquesas Islands 291 



flat three-strand sennit plaited from coconut fiber. This fiber was obtained from 

 both the husk and the leaf sheath. The sheath fiber was considered the better, prob- 

 ably because its greater length rendered possible a smoother plait. The only colors 

 seen were a dull black and the natural red brown, but Stewart (59, p. 236) men- 

 tions the use of yellow and white sennit as well. The plaiting and dyeing of this 

 sennit have been described on pages 378 and 379. 



The only complete set of ornamental lashings seen in the Marquesas was 

 in an old house in the valley of Atu Ona, Hiva Oa. The lashings were applied 

 to the juncture of the three main rafters of the front roof with the ridge pole, 

 to the junctures of all the rafters of the front and rear roofs with the lowest 

 crosspieces, and to the junctures of the main rafters of the rear roof with a 

 squared beam which ran along its under surface at the height of the top of the 

 front wall. This top beam probably did not exist in really primitive structures. 

 According to informants, ornamental lashings were used for the attachment of the 

 front posts to the stringer, of the main rafters of the front roof to the stringer, 

 and of all the cross poles of the roof to the rafters. Stewart (59, p. 236) says 

 that the front posts were "generally neatly hewn and ornamented by braids of 

 sennit . . . tied on in horizontal stripes in diamonds or in checks, in a pretty and 

 fanciful manner." As the front posts in Hiva Oa, Tahu Ata and Fatu Hiva 

 were usually carved this was probably a Nuku Hivan practice. The posts of 

 houses in Nuku Hiva are also said to have sometimes been covered with white 

 tapa under the lashings. 



A considerable number of lashing designs were employed but their use 

 has been discontinued for many years and only two patterns were seen. These 

 appeared on different parts of an old house in Atu Ona. According to inform- 

 ants the designs used for house lashings were made by a special tuluina who 

 originated them from string figures. Different designs were used for the front 

 posts, the rafters, and for other structural parts. Another special tuhnna put 

 them on. The designs seen were ovals with a black center and brown rim, 

 used at the points of attachment of the small rafters and the cross pieces of the 

 front and rear roofs (PI. xl, F), and crosses with a band on either side, used at 

 the juncture of the main rafters with the lowest crosspiece. At the juncture of 

 the central rafter of the front roof with the ridge pole two of these designs were 

 placed side by side. 



Methods 01? M.vking Lashings 



The methods of making lashings may be described as follows ; 



For the oval lashings two cords were used, one of black and the other of brown sennit, 

 both being carried from the left along the top of the crosspiece. The black cord was passed 

 twice around the rafter to form a double hitch whose upper and lower loops were respectively 

 above and below the crosspiece. The cord was then turned back to the left, carried up the 



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