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The Material Culture of the Cook Islands (Aitutaki)

Cocoanut Leaf Screen, Hapuka

Cocoanut Leaf Screen, Hapuka.

Two such screens, attached to a patiha wall, are shown in Fig. 37. At first sight it seems fairly obvious that they are merely two half sheets plaited in the same manner as roofing sheets in Fig. 10, but that instead of being plaited page 32together at the ends, the sides opposite the midrib edges are placed together and the free leaflet ends plaited in a three-ply braid. Such, however, is not the case.

Figure 37.Hapuka screen sheets.

Figure 37.
Hapuka screen sheets.

The length of leaf having been cut, the leaflets on one side are plaited with a check plait as in the case of the nikau sheet for thatching. There is this difference, however, to the technique shown in Fig. 7.

Figure 38.Plaiting the hapuka screen sheet.

Figure 38.
Plaiting the hapuka screen sheet.

Instead of the lower leaflets which are turned to the left, namely 2, 4 and 6, being left free beyond the line of the first leaflet turned to the right, 1, they are successively bent over at right angles and directed towards the right, where they interlace in the check plait, as in Fig. 38. This makes a plaited margin on the left. The plaiting is continued towards the right for an even depth and the right end finished off in a manner similar to that on the left except, of course, it is the right leaflets that are turned back page 33towards the left. The leaflets numbered 8 and 10 in Fig. 38 are knotted together to keep the plaiting from coming loose, and two leaflets are tied on the right for a similar purpose.

The leaf is now reversed and the leaflets on the other side plaited for a similar depth to the side already done.

When completed, the two plaited sides are bent upwards to meet along their free edges, and the leaflet ends on either side are plaited into a three-ply braid. The technique of the braid is exactly similar to that in plaiting the bottom of the tapora basket, described later. The free end of the braid is tied into an overhand knot as shown on the right of the lower sheet in Fig. 37.

The leaf midrib is last of all split down its middle and the plaited material opened out into the flat sheet termed a hapuka.

Attention must be specially drawn to the unexpected detail in technique. Instead of splitting the leaf midrib being the first process, it is the last. This is due to the fact that it is easier to control the leaflets in the braid plait when both sides are fixed together on the leaf midrib than if they were apart. It demonstrates the importance of seeing each article actually made wherever possible. Otherwise it is extremely easy to fall into error.