Te kai ni wairau

Te kai ni wairau. Thatching awl. This kai ni wairau is used to make ato (pieces of thatch) forming the roof of dwellings. Ato are sourced from prepared te baa (coconut leaves) or baan ni kaina (pandanus leaves) that are soaked for up to three days then layered thickly together. When attached carefully these become water tight and are able to protect a dwelling for several years. The kai ni wairau is used to pierce the leaves which are then secured with te noko (coconut midrib) through the holes. This kai ni wairau is made of turtle bone in which is a large interior cavity, spatulate in shape and ground to a sharp point at one end. It is somewhat curved in profile with a polished surface. It is a yellowed colour although a darker brown in the cavity.

Other Name

Thatching awl (English)

Place

Nonouti/Gilbert Islands/Kiribati

Accession Number

1940.3

Accession Date

1940

Other Id

25156.2 (ethnology)

Department

Pacific