Guide to the Patterns of cloth made and wore [i.e. worn] by Natives of the South Sea Islands being part of the collection made by the celebrated circumnavigator Capt. James Cook in his first, second and third voyages.

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MS 4299g

National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record

Created: 2003

Collection Summary

Title
Patterns of cloth made and wore [i.e. worn] by Natives of the South Sea Islands being part of the collection made by the celebrated circumnavigator Capt. James Cook in his first, second and third voyages.
Date Range
1768-1778
Collection Number
MS 4299g
Extent
0.03 metres (1 volume)
Language of Materials
English
Repository
National Library of Australia
Abstract
The book (23 cm) contains around 70 cloth samples of Tapa, collected by Captain James Cook in his first, second and third voyages. The samples were collected from the Friendly Islands (Tonga); Sandwich Islands, Otaheite (Tahiti), Society Islands (French Polynesia); and New Amsterdam. Each sample measures around 5 cm x 9.8 cm or smaller. The book includes a list corresponding to the samples, with explanations including place of origin, some detail of methods of manufacture and the likely wearers and uses of the various cloth types.

Introduction

Scope and Contents

The book (23 cm) contains around 70 cloth samples of Tapa, collected by Captain James Cook in his first, second and third voyages. The samples were collected from the Friendly Islands (Tonga); Sandwich Islands, Otaheite (Tahiti), Society Islands (French Polynesia); and New Amsterdam. Each sample measures around 5 cm x 9.8 cm or smaller. The book includes a list corresponding to the samples, with explanations including place of origin, some detail of methods of manufacture and the likely wearers and uses of the various cloth types.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is available for reference.

Conditions Governing Use

Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions. For such material, written permission to publish must be obtained from the copyright holder(s). Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.

Preferred Citation

Items from this collection should be cited as 'Patterns of cloth made and wore [i.e. worn] by Natives of the South Sea Islands being part of the collection made by the celebrated circumnavigator Capt. James Cook in his first, second and third voyages. National Library of Australia, MS 4299g'.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Acquired as part of the Rex Nan Kivell collection (NK 10696).

Historical Note

Bark cloth, or tapa, was traditionally produced throughout the islands of the South Pacific from the bark of trees such as the paper mulberry or breadfruit tree. Cloth was produced in distinctive artistic and cultural styles for both functional and ceremonial purposes.

Item Descriptions

[The cover of the volume] (Item Front Cover)

Contemporary descriptions of samples 1-8 (Item Folio 1 verso)

Contemporary descriptions of samples 9-26 (Item Folio 2)

Contemporary descriptions of samples 27-44 (Item Folio 2 verso)

Contemporary descriptions of samples 45-52 (Item Folio 3)

Samples 1-18 (Item Folio 5 verso 6)

From New Amsterdam, and made to resist rain by being smeared with the juice of a glutenous herb [transcribed from Folio 1 verso] (Item 1)

From Otaheite this is used to spread below the chiefs while at dinner under the trees [transcribed from Folio 1 verso] (Item 2)

From the Sandwich Islands this was no larger than a common table cloth the dyes are mattie ficues and burnt cocoa nutt mixed with the oil of the same [transcribed from Folio 1 verso] (Item 3)

From the Sandwich Islands and the dyes of consistence just mentioned [transcribed from Folio 1 verso] (Item 4)

From the Sandwich Islands and very strong it resists water very well the dye is as the former [transcribed from Folio 1 verso] (Item 5)

From Otaheite used for bedding [transcribed from Folio 1 verso] (Item 6)

From ditto [i.e. Otaheite] wore by the common people when raining it is glazed as no. 1 [transcribed from Folio 1 verso] (Item 7)

This was 6 yards square it is a master piece of the Sandwich Islands manufacture and wore by the Ladies of honor the dyes are the same as 3 and 4 but finer ground [transcribed from Folio 1 verso] (Item 8)

From Otaheite wore by the people in fine weather it is made of the rind of the mulberry tree [transcribed from Folio 2] (Item 9)

From Otaheite but finer [transcribed from Folio 2] (Item 10)

From ditto [i.e. Otaheite] but of a stronger consistency [transcribed from Folio 2] (Item 11)

From ditto [i.e. Otaheite] very fine and dyed with fine yellow juice [transcribed from Folio 2] (Item 12)

From ditto [i.e. Otaheite] used at religious ceremonies [transcribed from Folio 2] (Item 13)

From ditto [i.e. Otaheite] used in mourning dresses [transcribed from Folio 2] (Item 14)

From ditto [i.e. Otaheite] used at the human sacrifices [transcribed from Folio 2] (Item 15)

From the Sandwich Islands the dye the same as No. 9 laid on with a small reed in the hand [transcribed from Folio 2] (Item 16)

From Otaheite beat with a groved piece of wood and used as a mat [transcribed from Folio 2] (Item 17)

From Otaheite the very finest of the inner court of the mulberry tree and wore by the chiefs [transcribed from Folio 2] (Item 18)

Samples 19-54 (Item Folio 6 verso 7)

Made out of old cloth for the bedding to the common people [transcribed from Folio 2] (Item 19)

From the Sandwich Islands and groved with a piece of wood [transcribed from Folio 2] (Item 20)

From Otaheite it was not fully completed [transcribed from Folio 2] (Item 21)

From the Sandwich Islands finely manufactured [transcribed from Folio 2] (Item 22)

From ditto [i.e. Sandwich Islands] wore by the Priests [transcribed from Folio 2] (Item 23)

From ditto [i.e. Sandwich Islands] wore by the young women and oiled to resist water [transcribed from Folio 2] (Item 24)

An under garment sometimes used for ornament dye the same as before [transcribed from Folio 2] (Item 25)

From Owyhee used as ornaments upon their Canoes [transcribed from Folio 2] (Item 26)

From Otaheite used by the chiefs for sitting on [transcribed from Folio 2 verso] (Item 27)

From ditto [i.e. Otaheite] used as a sash and under garments for the dancers [transcribed from Folio 2 verso] (Item 28)

The same as No 26 but smaller in the stripe [transcribed from Folio 2 verso] (Item 29)

From Owyhee a covering for the common people [transcribed from Folio 2 verso] (Item 30)

The same as No. 3 but coarser [transcribed from Folio 2 verso] (Item 31)

From Otaheite wore by the chiefs going to war [transcribed from Folio 2 verso] (Item 32)

From New Amsterdam, wore by the common people no rain will penetrate it [transcribed from Folio 2 verso] (Item 33)

From Otaheite wore as garments by the Ladies [transcribed from Folio 2 verso] (Item 34)

From the Friendly Islands and presented to Mr King the colors the same as before [transcribed from Folio 2 verso] (Item 35)

From Otaheite wore by the Priests, the piece of cloth from which this was cut was presented to the afore-said Lieutenant by a priest of Owyhee [transcribed from Folio 2 verso] (Item 36)

From New Amsterdam common but very durable [transcribed from Folio 2 verso] (Item 37)

From Otaheite wore by the young dancers of both sexes [transcribed from Folio 2 verso] (Item 38)

A fine specimen of the lace bark from Jamaica [transcribed from Folio 2 verso] (Item 39)

From the Sandwich Islands used at boxing matches [transcribed from Folio 2 verso] (Item 40)

Wore by the young women of Otaheite when delivering a present [transcribed from Folio 2 verso] (Item 41)

From the Sandwich Islands wore by the warriors [transcribed from Folio 2 verso] (Item 42)

From ditto [i.e. Sandwich Islands] matts for dancing on [transcribed from Folio 2 verso] (Item 43)

From Otaheite wore by the children [transcribed from Folio 2 verso] (Item 44)

From the Society Islands, wore by the common people [transcribed from Folio 3] (Item 45)

From ditto [i.e. Society Islands] wore by the Priests [transcribed from Folio 3] (Item 46)

From Friendly Islands wore by the chiefs going to war [transcribed from Folio 3] (Item 47)

From ditto [i.e. Friendly Islands] wore by the Ladies of honor [transcribed from Folio 3] (Item 48)

From ditto [i.e. Friendly Islands] used as ornaments to their war canoes [transcribed from Folio 3] (Item 49)

From ditto [i.e. Friendly Islands] used for sitting on while at dinner [transcribed from Folio 3] (Item 50)

From ditto [i.e. Friendly Islands] wore by the young women [transcribed from Folio 3] (Item 51)

From ditto [i.e. Friendly Islands] wore by the Priests [transcribed from Folio 3] (Item 52)

[No description in book] (Item 53)

[No description in book] (Item 54)

Samples 55-71, [65 missing] (Item Folio 7 verso 8)

[No description in book] (Item 55)

[No description in book] (Item 56)

[No description in book] (Item 57)

[No description in book] (Item 58)

[No description in book] (Item 59)

[No description in book] (Item 60)

[No description in book] (Item 61)

[No description in book] (Item 62)

[No description in book] (Item 63)

[No description in book] (Item Unnumbered)

[No description in book] (Item Unnumbered)

[No description in book] (Item Unnumbered)

[No description in book] (Item Unnumbered)

[No description in book] (Item Unnumbered)

[No description in book] (Item Unnumbered)

[No description in book] (Item Unnumbered)

[The back cover of the volume] (Item Back Cover)


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