PACIFIC SEA SHELLS

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 32, 1 November 1932, Page 3

PACIFIC SEA SHELLS

Use by Native Peoples FOR ART AND UTILITY An illustrated lecture “Shellfish in the Social Economy of the Maori and the Pacific Islander,” was delivered by Mr. A. W. B. Powell; conchologist at the War Memorial Museum, Auckland, recently, at the final meeting of the anthropology and Maori race Section of the Auckland Institute. Mr. Powell said that shellfish formed an Important part of the food-supply of Maoris living on and near the coast, and many varieties were eaten, including plpis, mussels, toheroa, paua, oysters, and fanshells. On the other hand, owing to the lack of species such. as were found in abundance further north, the use of shells in the arts necessarily fell into disuse. Pearl-shell being unobtainable, the Maoris made use of the paua for inlaying in carved woodwork and in the making of fish-hooks. The shell being thin, however, it--could not be mounted upon the shank of a hook without support of some kind, and a wood backing was provided. ' Some use was made of large conchshells for trumpets, which were provided with mouthpieces of carved wood. Instead of the large shells used for the

purpose in Polynesia, the Maoris provided themselves with decorated canoebailers, which to-day were regarded as fine examples of their art. With the aid of many lantern slides the lecturer described the many uses made of shells by the Polynesian and Melanesian peoples, and showed examples of pearl-inlaid canoe-prows, weapons and wooden bowls, shellmoney, shell necklaces, armlets, headdresses ,and flsh-hooks.

Mr. Powell also gave an interesting account of a custom observed in the d’Entrecasteaux group, off the southeastern extremity of New Guinea, and known as the kula. This involves the ceremonial passing of highly-valued shell necklaces and armlets from island to island in the course of trading expeditions, the armlets circulating in one direction round the group and the necklaces the reverse way. The custom had received much attention from anthropologists, Mr. Powell said, and a great deal had been written about it.