Tabua. Two segments of a ceremonial whale's tooth secured together at their base with coconut fibre and copper wire. An iyau (treasure) of high cultural value to Fijians. Sourced from a tovuto (sperm whale), each of the tabua segments the tabua is long, curved, and roughly triangular in cross section. The segments are highly polished and a cream-yellow colour. The outer surface of each segment is very worn. The exposed interior sides of the tabua segments show natural knots and grooves in the tabua enamel. One tabua segment has one hole drilled into it at the base, the other segment has three holes drilled along its length.