NOTE ON FIJIAN CLUBS. 
The transverse band near the centre of the design, referred to 
above (Fig. 4), is about three-quarters of an inch wide, and consists 
of a triangular pattern of closely placed lines. The style of this 
decorative band seems to be more characteristic of Fijian than of 
New Zealand ornamentation. 
With regard to the origin of Maori ornamentation on Fijian 
articles, it is a matter of some difficulty to decide to what circum- 
stances it is due. 
Accepting the theory that Maori art is endemic, it having been 
evolved since the isolation of the Maoris from the rest of the world 
after the last great migration about the year 1350, and was not brought 
with them from their original home, it cannot be said that that 
found in Fiji represents the remnant of a type originally derived 
from a common source and distributed throughout many islands 
m the Pacific visited and colonized by the early Polynesians. 
No intercourse, then, having taken place between the Maoris 
and other peoples of the Pacific since the evolution of their art, 
its introduction into Fiji can best be explained by attributing it to 
communication between the two places, which commenced with 
the European whalers and traders at the beginning of last century. 
There is, however, a possible explanation which may refer its 
introduction into Fiji to earlier times, and which was suggested by 
pieces of a New Guinea canoe in the Museum, said to have been 
picked up on the coast of New Zealand. It is that, in like manner, 
a Maori canoe may have been driven out of its course and eventually 
stranded on one of the islands of the Fijian Group, where either the 
designs on the canoe were copied by the inhabitants, or the charac- 
teristic form of carved decoration was made known to them by 
some of its Maori survivors. 
If by this explanation its origin can be referred to a period ante- 
dating the advent of the European, the fact may possibly be ascer- 
tained by the type of weapon, or some feature in the carving, 
differing from that of more modern times. There is nothing in the 
types represented by the two clubs under consideration, or in their 
condition, to suggest antiquity ; and with reference to their orna- 
mentation, I am not in a position to give an opinion as to any 
variation in the detail of the work which may offer a clue ; but I 
believe Professor Dixon held the view that some such evidence 
of antiquity did exist in the Museum specimen. On the other hand, 
it may onl} mean that the ornamentation, used originally as a 
pattern, was of ancient design. 
Failing proof of antiquity, it appears to me that the ornamenta- 
tion most probably originated either by articles brought from New 
Zealand to Fiji by missionaries, traders, or whalers, or else by some 
of their Maori sailors decorating the weapons of the Fijians with the 
New Zealand patterns. 
[56 j 
