Artifact Number:
04767
Object:
CLUB
Newa, Pikoi
Material:
Plant (wood)
Dimensions:
L: 45.7 cm
Origin:
Hawaii, Hawaii, Polynesia
Comments:
Uhiuhi wood newa bought from Pila Poheepali of Kailua, Hawaii on June 10, 1885. Pila bought it from an old woman in Kaloko anmed Pua. It had for a long time been used to kill large fish such as auau, kahala, mahimahi, opakapaka, ulaula, etc. and was formerly used to rob and kill men. (Emerson) Draeger (1977: OP 1) noted that it appears to be a natural piece of a tree bough that was carved with little care to finish its surface or define its features. Length 45.7 cm, head width 14.9 by 7.6 cm, weight 1315 g. Figure 209. (Summers) Not an exceptionally well-balances club because of its heavy weigth when used in subtle actions, which is difficult. But a forceful blow struck against almost any target on the human body would produce serious injury. The sharpened butt-end of the haft would be useful only in limited applications in the direct attack; it could, however, be used as a countermeasure to the grasp of an enemy's hand on the wrist of the club-user's arm. As a discrete feature, the rectangularly shaped carved plate-like surface found on the butt portion of the haft on the side of the secondary percussion face probably served as a stop to reduce the chances of the sharpened butt-end of the haft for injuring the under fore-arm surface of the user's club arm when the primary percussion face is being swung and/or impacted against a target. It also served a s a non-slip check to the under edge of the gripping hand. (Draeger 1977: OP 1)
Collection Name: J.S. Emerson Collection
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