between the figures ornamented with fine sennit has no history, but the carved figures are typically Rarotongan. The staff is wider in one diameter than the other. On the wider surface, the human figures are shown in profile in pairs back to back, whereas the full face is shown on the narrower surface. Each set, except the middle one, consists of a pair with well formed heads, eyes, mouth, and ears and with conventional upper and lower limbs. The middle set has two pairs of figures with their feet meeting in the middle line and their heads directed toward their respective ends of the staff. In the end sets, the heads form the ends of the staff; and each of the intermediate sets have the heads directed toward the nearer staff end. The four interspaces between the five sets of figures range in length from 158 to 183 mm. The two end interspaces are covered with the Rarotongan multiple lozenge pattern similar to that on the Rarotongan fan handles and like them in two colors, natural and red. The two middle interspaces are covered with close transverse turns in which two colors are alternated to form narrow bands. Details are shown in figure 69.
The figures are well carved, the eyes having raised flanges instead of curved incisions. The ears show three variations of detail: with distinct ears hollowed out (fig. 69, c, e), without being hollowed out (fig. 69, b, f), and two ears fused into one (fig. 69, d).
Figure 69.—Ornamental staff (British Mus., 1905-11-14-1). a, full staff: total length, 1,096 mm.; shows five sets of human figures (1-5) and four interspaces, two end ones (6, 9) with multiple lozenge lashing and two middle ones (7, 8) with transverse turns, b, side view of left end figures (a,1): shows back to back heads with eyes formed by raised flanges, incised mouth and distinct ears; raised carved figure (1) forms conventional upper limbs in front view (g, 1) and lower elliptical raised figure (2), with middle hollowed out, forms lower limbs in front (g,2); below figures a raised, notched flange (3) encircles staff; the two figures are 41 mm. wide by 26 mm. thick and 77 mm. high to bottom of notched flange; decorative lashing commences immediately below flange with a number of close transverse turns (4) which change to multiple lozenge pattern (5), for rest of first interspace except a few transverse turns at end; sennit-covered staff is here 33 mm. wide by 24 mm. thick and interspace length (a,6) is 161 mm. c, side view of second set (a, 2): width, 40 mm.; thickness, 25 mm.; height, 69 mm.; similar to first set (b) but with ears, hollowed out; next interspace (4) between figure sets, 179 mm. long, 31 mm. wide, and 22 mm. thick, d, middle set of upper and lower figures (a, 3): similar to others but ears have fused into one and there is no notched flange between figures; greatest width, 38 mm.; thickness, 25 mm.; height of reversed sets, 107 mm.; e, lower intermediate figures (a,4): similar to c with ears hollowed out; width, 39 mm.; thickness, 28 mm.; height, 65 mm.; intermediate space above (1) with transverse sennit lashing, width, 30 mm.; thickness, 20 mm.; length, 183 mm.; intermediate space below (2) with multiple lozenge pattern; width, 31 mm.; thickness, 25 mm. length, 158 mm. f, lower end figures (a,5): similar in all respects to upper end figures (b); width, 43 mm.; thickness, 30 mm.; height, 87 mm. g-k, front views of figures immediately above; upper limbs (1) and lower limbs (2) similarly marked throughout.
In describing the Atiuans, Cook (20, pp. 183, 184) says: "They were punctured upon the legs, from the knee to the heel, which made them appear as if they wore a kind of boot." Later he says (20, p. 195) of the same people: "Some of the men were punctured all over the sides and back, in an uncommon manner; and some of the women had the same ornament upon their legs. But this method was confined to those who seemed to be of a superior rank."
Williams (81, p. 67), who visited Aitutaki in 1821, says of the people, "Some were tattooed from head to foot"; and he (81, p. 110) says of the high chief, Makea, whom