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The Material Culture of the Cook Islands (Aitutaki)

The Gable-Ends, Tara

The Gable-Ends, Tara.

The roof (tua) having been completed, the triangular space at the gable-ends, between the roof on either side and the wall plate (rape) has to be filled in. Sheets of nikau or rau are used as in the case of the roof. The framework to which they are attached is shown in Fig. 35 (A). There are two oka elements, A., just to the inner side of the end wall plate or rape, B. From the inner side of the oka to the outer side of the wall plate, a number of vertical poles or kaho, C., are attached. From the vertical section (B.) it will be seen that there is a slight slant downwards and outwards. The sheets are attached to the kaho with sinnet braid in an exactly similar manner to the sheets of the roof.

In order, however, to throw the rain water away from the end walls a special projection outwards of the lower page 30sheets is necessary. With the sloping sides of the roof, their prolongation beyond the side walls to form eaves together with the arrangement of the manuae, protects the walls. In the case of the gable-end or tara, the slope of the kaho is too steep to enable a prolongation downwards to be of any use. The angle had to be changed at the wall plate. This was done by introducing short length of wood, F., to change the line of the kaho. Note Fig. 35 (B). They
Figure 35. Framework of gable end.

Figure 35.
Framework of gable end.

(A.)—Gable end from within. (B.)—Section down Kaho.

A.—Oka. B.—Rape. C.—Kaho. D.—Ridge-pole.

E.—Rakau tami. F.—Kakau toki.

were called kakau toki (adze handles), no doubt from their making a somewhat similar angle to the wall, that an adze handle does with its adze. The short inner ends were lashed to the upper surface of the transverse wall plate, and above them again, a transverse beam was laid to keep them at the right angle. This beam is referred to as the rakau tami i te kakau toki, the beam that keeps down the kakau toki. There must be a shorter name, but it could not be remembered at the time.

The thatching therefore commences on the kautoki and then works up on the kaho until the gable-end is filled in as shown in Fig. 2. The lengths of the sheets are arranged to fit in with the narrowing rows, and at the top there may be a small open space that is useful for ventilation. Where the rows of thatch sheets are close together, any space between the edges of the end sheets and the slope of the sides of the roof may be disregarded. In some cases where page 31the rows of thatch are wider apart, sheets of cocoanut leaves may be run diagonally with the midrib against the side roof to block the openings.

The outward projection of the lower part of the tara is called poho tara. The part of the side roof which projects beyond the wall plate to form eaves is called kaponga in Raratonga.