Linton — Tlic Marquesas Islands 2i77 



FIBER AND CORDAGE 



The material most commonly used for Marquesan cordage appears to 

 have been the bark of the fau tree. The bark was obtained from young shoots 

 two inches or less in diameter and was prepared as follows : The stripped 

 bark was soaked for several days in a taro patch or in the backwater 

 of a stream, left until the membrane connecting the inner and outer bark 

 had been destroyed and the outer layer had begun to decay. The inner bark 

 was then separated, scraped, and soaked for two or three days in fresh running 

 water. It was then spread out and dried in the sun. Almost every native 

 household has a bundle of this dried bark, strips of which are used for all the 

 purposes for which Europeans employ string. 



True cordage was made from the dried bark by either twisting or plaiting. 

 Heavy rope was twasted from two or usually three strands. In manufacture the 

 direction of rotation was the same as in European rope. In order to make the 

 rope smooth and of uniform diameter, the bark was cut in lengths of two or 

 three feet which were worked in gradually as the twisting progressed. The 

 finished product was somewhat softer and more flexible than a hemp rope and 

 when new was almost equally strong, but it did not wear as well as hemp. 

 Twisted bark rope is still manufactured to a limited extent. The heaviest 

 made is about one inch in diameter. In ancient times much larger ropes were 

 made, but no examples seem to have survived. Light cords and small strings 

 were made by rolling the bark on the thigh. 



Small ropes and heavy cords were usually plaited, the bark being prepared 

 as in rope twisting except that it was not cut into short lengths. 



The strands were first loosely knotted together and held by the toes until enough cord 

 had been braided to permit of attachment to a tree or post. The plaiting was then done in 

 the ordinary European direction, that is, toward the workman. In cords ending in a flat loop 

 the body of the cord was frequently twisted and the loop plaited. Three, four, six, seven, and 

 eight strand plaits were used, but only the three and four strand plaits, called respectively toua 

 and fofii, were used for ordinary cordage. 



Rope of seven strands was used for certain ceremonial purposes (32). The 

 six and eight strand plaits form flat bands, and are still used for the leg ends 

 of pig tethers. (See PI. lxv^ A.) Although most of the natives are familiar 

 with these techniques, none of the informants questioned were able to give a 

 name for them. 



Practically all fau bark cordage was utilitarian, although slender black cord 

 of this material was used with other material in a few ornaments. In the 

 feather headdress (packita) it was plaited with tapa cord to form a black and 

 white edging. The cords of the large fish net (iipena) were dyed red with earth 



[117] 



