Rabatan te matau. Shank of a fish hook. Cut from the hinge portion of te bwaeao (mother of pearl shell), in a long curved rectangular strip so as to include a part of the hinge (to form the thicker proximal end) as well as the area towards the lip of the shell (at the thinner end). Although the hinge end of the shank is very thick, it is narrower than the thin end, which flares outwards as it extends. The rabatan (shank) is shaped this way because it is still in the process of manufacture. This also explains why its outer surface has not been polished and instead remains rough and speckled with brown and white marks. Once finished, the rabatan would have been used within a composite fish hook for trolling. The inner surface of the shank is smooth, glossy, and white in colour with a high sheen. However at the thick end of this surface, the rabatan is textured with layers of small ridges which are a natural feature of the hinge portion of te bwaeao. There is also a small piece of wire encircling the rabatan.