386 Memoirs Bcniicc P. Bishop Museum 



ARTICLES USED IN GAMES 

 This section includes the various objects which were used hy the natives 

 in their sports and amusements. The best known and most striking of these 

 toys are the stilts. 



STILTS 



^larquesan stilts are made in two jiarts, a shaft and a step. A modern 

 stilt is illustrated on Plate Lxviii, --/. The shaft consists of a round pole of 

 some light wood, usually fau, with a diameter of 2 to 3 inches and a length of 

 5 to 7 feet. In the best made specimens the ujiper end is carved into a rounded 

 grip. The stilt shafts are carved with sim]ile designs. 



For convenience in description the step may be considered as havin"; two parts, a 

 longf lower section, which rests against the shaft, and a projecting upper portion or foot re.st. 

 In an average specimen the lower section is 95^ inches long, with a width of i-)4 inches at 

 the upper end and one inch at the lower end. The inner side is slightly concave, to fit the stilt 

 shaft, the concavity being deepest at the top. The foot rest in the shape of a broad hook, 

 with a strongly convex outer, and slightly conve.x inner surface, and a rounded end. 



In the commonest type of ancient stilt steps (PI. lxviii, B. 2) the sjiace 

 between the lower section and the foot rest is bridged by a small human figure, its 

 buttocks and legs carved in high relief u]X)n the lower section, while its head rests 

 against the foot rest. 



The whole effect is that of an .\tlantid or Car\atid. The space behind the body of 

 the figure is pierced and serves as an eye through which the lashings are passed. These 

 figures are carved in compliance with the ordinary tiki convention, with a disproportionate- 

 ly large head, short arms, and short fle.xed legs. The face shows the usual spectacle eyes, 

 scroll ear, flat nose and broad mouth, and the top of the head is encircled by a narrow band 

 bearing simple incised designs. The arms are shown either at the sides, with the hands rest- 

 ing upon the stomach, or raised on either side of the head as if to help support the weight of 

 the foot rest. Most bodies show slight modeling, the line of the collar bone and the nipples 

 and navel being indicated. The entire body and limbs are usually covered with shallow 

 grooves, arranged to conform to the contours, while similar grooves in either straight or geo- 

 metric patterns, cover Ixith the inner and outer surfaces of the footrest. 



In a specimen in the Peabody Museum of Cambridge a whale's tooth pen- 

 dant from a cord is carved in low relief around the neck of the figure. 



There were a number of variations from this form of step. Two figures 

 carved back tn Iiack were often used with their sides against the step, or two 

 figures were placed one above the other, the lowest carved in high relief, while the 

 body of the upper figure was in the round. In this design the upper figure was 

 frequently represented as kneeling (PI. lxviii, B, i ). A s]5ecinien in the Bishop 

 Museum is decorated with two superposed figures of rather fantastic form, and 

 has flat tiki faces carved on the foot rest. (PI. lxviii, B. 3). The space behind 

 the figures is pierced. This specimen is obviously modern and unused, and it 

 seems probable that it is a degenerate example made for sale. 



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