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Sport 26: Autumn 2001
I 20,000 Fish Hooks
I 20,000 Fish Hooks
1
The Iron Age
took a long time to develop in Europe.In the Pacific
it came almost overnight: iron hoop, axes,
knives and firearms.
2
Birds of passage
Thus we called them, the traders,
flitting from rock to rock in that vast
ocean.
3
When the first ships came they were full of men.
We imagined them sailing with only each other for love.
Our old people didn't believe it—
touched them to see if any hid breasts
under those strange wraps.
They turned their noses up, though, at our sons and marvelled
at the discovery of women, our daughters.
4
100 doz. tomahawks—commencing No. 1c, 3 (common).
20 doz. tomahawks. Bright without handles.
page 4
100 doz. felling axes (common).
10 doz. clearing axes (good for use).
50 doz. Adzes (common).
5 cwt. glass beads assorted sizes and colours.
20 doz. common small scissors.
20 doz. sailors' knives.
12 pieces bright cold scarlet coarse fabric, broad.
10 dozen drawing knives.
10 dozen butcher's knives.
20,000 fish hooks assorted.
20 dozen saw files X cut & hand saw.
20 dozen Musket flints.
20 dozen Pistol flints.
5 dozen good adzes for use.
5
Other items in request
were tomahawks, axes
adzes, cloth, fish
hooks, knives and beads—large blue glass beads
were most in demand.
For bringing a log
weighing 20 to 80 pounds
from the bush to the shore, a man received
a piece of iron hoop
about five inches long.
6
For example, at the Isle of Pines, Captain Cheyne reported:
The natives could form no idea as to the use
we made of the Sandal Wood.
After seeing biscuit
they came at last to the conclusion that we ground it into Powder
and ate it.