Canoe prow ornament (tabuya)

A curved wooden canoe prow decoration with anthropomorphic figures. A man will travel a long way up river to buy a large log. The log is towed back to the village, lifted onto the bank and roughed out with an adz. Fire is used to help burn out the interior and seal the surface against insects. The prow is shaped according to the tradition of the area, sometimes additional designs are carved on the sides, and it may be painted with natural pigments or store house paint. For use with an outboard, a separate plank is tightly fitted into the back as a transom and caulked with clay. An ordinary canoe lasts around 5 to 7 years. One from better wood lasts 10 to 12. When canoes rot, many of the prows are cut off and saved for the artifact buyers.