Marquesas Islands
When Captain James Cook visited the Marquesas Islands in 1774 he wrote ‘The Inhabitants of these Islands are without exception as fine a race of people as any in this sea or perhaps any whatever’. The men were tall and strong and the most noble had complete body tattoos. They also took pride in martial prowess and carried large carved clubs. The wood of these clubs was blackened by burying it in a taro swamp after which it was polished with coconut oil.
Wooden club, Marquesas Islands, Polynesia, pre-1890. Grainger Collection.
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