I ULA DRISIA (Fiji)

Ball-headed throwing club from Fiji, 1700's.

Hardwood, globular head with fluted segments, centred by a plain shallow domed pommel, the tapering cylindrical shaft with slightly waisted grip carved with vertical bands of chevrons, 37 cm long.

Some wear of the extremities of the head because of heavy use.

Overall a deep dark glossy patina of use and age.

A weapon much used is the missile club, which is worn stuck in the girdle, sometimes in pairs like pistols. It resembles the induka of the Kaffirs, a short stick with a large knob at one end, either plain or ornamented. This is hurled with great precision and used formerly to be the favourite implement of assassination. (Rev. Thomas Williams 1884, Fiji and the Fijians:47).

The effective use of the throwing club is more graphically shown in the journal entry by U.S. naval armourer W. Briscoe describing the killing of Lieutenant Underwood on the beach at Malolo in 1840:

When they attacked him, he fired both of his pistols in succession, each killing a native, he then retreated a few steps backwards, when he was knocked down by a small club thrown at him, and struck him on the back of the head and he fell in the water which was about knee deep. After falling two of the natives rushed at him and put an end to his life in a very few seconds. His head was split open with a hatchet and lacerated to a shocking degree.

Henry Mosely's describing (1879:338):

... A missile weapon which is thrown with great force with the hand, revolving rapidly in the air as it flies and striking a very formidable blow, often in the face. Settlers in Fiji told me it was the only native weapon which they feared when fighting the Fijians.