Linton — Tlic Marquesas Islands 387 



The step was attached to the shaft by sennit lashino;s passed around both, one set of 

 these lashings covering the space behind the tiki figure while the second set of lashings en- 

 circled the step below it. The shaft was wrapped witli tapa at the point where the step was 

 attached. Black and red sennit are said to have been used for the lashings and it is probable 

 that the strands were laid on in ornamental designs. The stilts were used in the ordinary 

 European way, the instep of the foot resting against the shaft. The upper end of the shaft 

 was grasped in the hand and lifted at each step. 



The ancient Marquesans are said to have been unusually expert stilt 

 walkers, running races over smooth pavements and engaging in knocking down 

 contests. Native boys now engage in these contests. The antagonists face one 

 another and, balancing on one stilt, extend the other stilt and make a quick 

 swinging blow at the bottom of the enemy's stilt, recovering instantly. The 

 sport continues until one or the other falls. 



In view of the mountainous natrfre of the country, and the lack of soft or 

 even level ground, it seems impossible that stilts could have been developed 

 locally. The}^ were used in Hawaii, the Society Islands and New Zealand, but 

 do not appear to have been used in Samoa or Tonga. It seems safe, therefore, 

 to consider them as a feature of the marginal, as opposed to the western Poly- 

 nesian culture. 



COCONUT SHELLS 



Small children frequently walk on coconut shells in solitary play. This 

 sport is possibly related to stilt walking. From the numerous half shells thrown 

 out by the kitchen the child selects two of equal size which are from the stem end 

 of the nut. He then passes a loop of string through the ty&s and inserts the big 

 toe of either foot between the sides of the loops, holding the upper ends in his 

 hands. In walking he lifts the shells by the loop at each step. The game seems 

 to be a solitary one, the child stamping back and forth over the pavement of the 

 house paepae and enjoying the clatter. 



DARTS 



One of the most important Marquesan games was dart throwing, called 



teka. This game is still occasionally played, and a few of the darts were seen. 



The darts are made from straight pieces of upland reed or from hard wood switches 

 and are about four feet long and one-half inch thick at the head. They are prepared 

 simply by stripping ofif the leaves. 



In playing the game a level open place is chosen. 



A small round mound of hard earth is built, and the darts are thrown against this 

 in such a way that they glance up and on down the course. The dart which travels 

 farthest is the winner. The darts are sometimes thrown with a card {alio) which is a thin 

 string, knotted at one end. One end is wrapped once around the dart near its center, being 

 held in place by the tension at the knot, while the other end of the throwing cord is wrapjied 

 around the first finger, and the shaft grasped with the rest of the hand, keeping the cord taut. 

 When the dart is thrown the cord causes it to rotate, making it fly straighter. 



[127] 



