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The Material Culture of the Cook Islands (Aitutaki)

Armlets and Leg Bands

Armlets and Leg Bands.

Armlets and leg bands of ti leaves were used at dances and festivals. The ends of the leaves were plaited together with a three-ply braid as in the case of the ti leaf kilts. They were then tied round the wrists, upper arms ankles and below the knees.

In the drama played to depict the coming of the first discoverer of Aitutaki, the principal character, Ru, was completely dressed in Dracaena leaves. Besides kilt, armlets and leg bands, he wore another kilt as a cape and had a band of large leaves bound round the head with the tip ends projecting upwards. It gave a picturesque appearance, but the man himself was hardly discernible for vegetation.