Katoua

Katoua. Club. This is a large katoua, made of wood and is dual-purposed as a cleaver and spear. The cleaver and spear are at either end and the katoua is made to be held in the middle. The cleaver would be aimed forward and spear backwards, so that you can attack front opponent with the cleaver, but also attack behind opponents with the spear (Reference KH). The traditional purpose of such club is for intended bodily harm during combat however this particular katoua was designed for dances such as takalo (war dance) and meke (drum dance). A great part of the cleaver half resembles a paddle blade from the centre of shaft by which it is smooth and rounded at the edges. The cleaver has a long and thin point extended from the blade. For the other half, the shaft centre narrows and becomes cylindrical, taking on the form of a spear. The spear head shows a point outlined by a circumferential protrusion and a dull tip. This katoua is of a medium-dark brown colour, by which appears to be of synthetic source. A brown patch is visible on the spear head.