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, but also attack behind opponents with the spear (Reference KH). The traditional purpose of such club is for intended bodily harm during combat however it is possible that this particular katoua was designed for dances such as takalo (war dance) and meke (drum dance). This katoua is dark brown in colour by which appears to be of synthetic source. A great part of the cleaver half strongly resembles a paddle blade from the centre of shaft. From the blade, an extension of a point. A line of protuberance is projected from the middle of this point towards the end of the paddle blade, levelling into the shaft surface. The shaft narrows from this point and becomes cylindrical, taking the form of a spear. A significant piece of the spear head and shaft has been broken off. A range of cut marks and the likes are visible across the katoua surface.