tour 3 of 16
The Pacific: Gods and People
Mourner's dress
This dress would have been worn by the chief
mourner, either a priest or a close relative, of an important
deceased person. He carried a menacing long club edged with shark
teeth, and led a procession of mourners through the local area,
attacking people, sometimes fatally. This 'reign of
terror' could last for up to a
month.
Captain
Cook's crew saw mourners' dresses on their first
voyage, but it was not until the second voyage (1772 -75) that
examples were collected. Cook wrote in his journal for 7 May 1774
that a complete example had been presented to him; it is believed
that this refers to the mourner's dress that he
subsequently presented to the British Museum, which is shown
here.
The main section of
the dress is made from barkcloth, with a feather mantle at the back
and feather tassels at the sides. The face mask is made of pearl
shell surmounted by tropical bird feathers. The wooden
crescent-shaped breast ornament is also decorated with pearl shell.
A chest apron of pearl shell slivers is suspended from this. The
barkcloth waist apron is decorated with coconut shell
discs.