SOUTHWEST PAVILION 



CoLLEC'llONS I'^HOM I'lIK Soi'I'll Slv\ IsL.WDS 



HAWAIIAN FEATHER CLOAK 



Entering the Southwest Pavilion beyond the Hall of Minerals the 

 visitor will find specimens pertaining to the natives of the Pacific Islands. 

 The wall cases contain examples of war implements, tapa or bark cloth, 

 sacred masks, boomerangs and armor. 



The central figure in this hall is a Tahitian priest represented as 



taking part in the fire-walking ceremony, in which the 



p. ,, participants walk over heated boulders of lava. On either 



side are groups engaged in grating cocoanut, making kava, 



weaving mats for roofing houses. 



In the box case behind the Tahitian fire-walker there is exhibited a 

 striking series of Melanesian masks, a few fashioned from the facial 

 portion of human skulls, the majority carved of wood. These masks are 

 worn by dancers during festivals in honor of the dead. Near the window 

 there is a case of sacred Melanesian carvings topped by a totem pole that 

 bears a superficial resemblance to the totem poles of the North Pacific 

 coast of America. 



The cases in the center contain Kava bowls, head rests, shell and 

 ebony armlets and other ornaments, betel spatulas, ceremonial paddles, 

 hats, mats and baskets. These people follow the custom of tattooing 

 themselves. Their occupations as here detailed are peaceful rather than 

 warlike. The swinging picture-frames on the left of the entrance mid- 

 way down the room give some idea of the dress, customs, and pastimes 

 of the South Sea Islanders. 



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