Fijian man with a 'tabua', 1965 (b/w photo) [2005/010/1/14/49]

Fijian man with a 'tabua' A Fijian man wearing face paint and ceremonial costume made from 'masi' (bark cloth) holds a 'tabua' (polished whale's tooth) in one hand. The tabua is an important cultural item in Fijian society, which was traditionally given as a gift of atonement or esteem. Caption reads: In ancient times 'Tabua' (whales' teeth) had a power far above their intrinsic worth, and were often the price of life or death, the indispensible adjunct to proposals of marriage, alliance, intrigue, request, apology, appeal to the gods or sympathy with the bereaved. Tabua were stained, oiled, polished and fitted with plaited cords by which they were handled. Today they are reserved for ceremonial occasions for the visits of distinguished people to the colony.