Throwing club "i ula kobo"

Description

hardwood, reddish brown patina, spherical club head with projection, inlaid with human tooth ivory, slightly dam., cracks, traces of insect caused damage, abrasion of paint;
the Fiji Islands were inhabited by a warrior race who made many different types of war clubs. Every Fijian man would wear at least one “ula” thrust through his waistband, sometime in pairs like pistols. In 1884 the Reverend Thomas Williams pointed out the throwing club was a favourite murder and assassination weapon mainly because it was such a part of everyday dress that it did not arouse or excite any suspicion. A tally of the clubs kills’ was kept by inlaying the victims teeth, one tooth per kill, in the head of the throwing club. A tally of the kills was also kept by notching the handle.