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The Material Culture of the Cook Islands (Aitutaki)

Agricultural Implements

Agricultural Implements.

The act of digging is ko, and to prepare a cultivation ko kai, to cultivate for food.

(1.) Paheru. The digging implement was an iron-wood stick, pointed at one end, and called a puheru. There was no step attached to the stick. The implement was driven into the ground by the arms alone. The implement was called a ko by the Rarotongans.

(2.) Implement for making holes for taro. Attention was drawn to this implement at Rarotonga, where a party were seen planting taro on dry ground. This implement was also called a ko, but it probably had some other distinguishing name. It was made of sapling, 5 feet 6 inches long, and about 4 or 5 inches in diameter. The upper end was trimmed into a handle, and the lower end rounded. The best wood on Rarotonga was the moto, which is quite heavy when dry. Candle-nut wood, tuitui, is also used when green, but it is useless when dry, as it becomes too light.

The earth is dug up and prepared. Then a layer of cocoanut leaves is laid over the surface of the prepared ground. The men drive the implements down into the soil between the leaflets to make holes. Women place the taro plants in position in the holes and press the earth firmly against the sides. The cocoanut leaves restrict the growth of weeds. The taro are planted in rows about 2 feet 10 inches apart, and the individual plants are 2 feet 10 inches apart in the rows.