Context (CMS Context)
Catalogue card 1 reads [stamped in black ink:] 'Z 3320 FIJI' and 'SHOW CASE 12'. [typed:] 'Kava root, presented by Thakombau, to British government official on the occasion of the cession of the islands to the British in 1875. It stood as a pledge of good faith on the part of the Fijians as regards the land. A label is attached to the root in somewhat illegible writing which reads as follows:- "Kava token presented to Lady Gordon, (wife of the first Governor of Fiji, and afterwards Lord Stanmore) with the great double canoe the Vuke ni Vanua by the Vuni Walu (Valu) (Cakobau) Thakombau which sailed in state from Bau to Nasova'. [added in pencil:] 20 Nov 1877'. [typed:] 'It is reported by S. Cowles that the Baron V. Hugel informed him that he had required this root from a British government official in Fiji 1875-5. Over-'. A round red sticker pasted on the card. On the back of the card [typed:] 'In ink writing on the root:- "Presented to Lady Gordon by the Vunivalu with his big canoe Nasova Fiji Nov 20 1877."/ MA VUKE NI VANUA = the big canoe. Further note from the Baron Von Hugels records:- "Presented to Lady Gordon by the Vuni Valu with his big canoe, Na vuke ni vanua Nasova, Fiji Nov:20 1877. In the writing of the Baroness A von Hugel:- Kava token presented to Lady Gordon with the great double canoe, the Vuke ni Vanua, by the Vuni Valu (Cakobau) Thakombau, which sailed in state from (Bau) Mbau, to Nasova. The probable significance of the presentation of this kava root is that it stood as a visible sign of the pledged word of the war lord of Fiji, Thakombau, that the land of Fiji had been ceded to Queen Victoria, it therefore is in the nature of the title deed of the British to Fiji. The fish hook, Z 3322, stands in the same relation as regards the territorial waters of Fiji'.
Catalogue card 2 reads [handwritten in black ink:] 'Z 3320. Show Case 12. Kava root, presented by Thakombau, to British government official on the occasion of the cession of the islands to the British in 1875. It stood as a pledge of good faith on the part of the Fijians as regards the land. A label is attached to the root in somewhat illegible writing which reads as follows:- "Kava token presented to Lady Gordon, (wife of the first Governor of Fiji, and afterwards Lord Stanmore) with the great double canoe the Vuke ni Vanua by the Vuni Walu (Valu) (Cakobau) Thakombau which sailed in state from Bau to Nasova Over'. On the back of the card [typed:] 'It is reported by S. Cowles that the Baron V. Hugel informed him that he had required this root from a British government official in Fiji 1875-5. Over-'. A round red sticker pasted on the card. On the back of the card [typed:] 'In ink writing on the root:- "Presented to Lady Gordon by the Vunivalu with his big canoe Nasova Fiji Nov 20 1877."/ NA VUKE NI VANUA = the big canoe. Further note from the Baron Von Hugels records:- "Presented to Lady Gordon by the Vuni Valu with his big canoe, Na vuke ni vanua Nasova, Fiji Nov:20 1877. In the writing of the Baroness A von Hugel:- Kava token presented to Lady Gordon with the great double canoe, the Vuke ni Vanua, by the Vuni Valu (Cakobau) Thakombau, which sailed in state from (Bau) Mbau, to Nasova. The probable significance of the presentation of this kava root is that it stood as a visible sign of the pledged word of the war lord of Fiji, Thakombau, that the land of Fiji had been ceded to (Cont on next card)'. On another card [typed:] 'Z 3320 (continued) Queen Victoria, it therefore is in the nature of the title deed of the British to Fiji. The fish hook, Z 3322, stands in the same relation as regards the territorial waters of Fiji. Show Case number 12'.
Event Date 1/6/1996
Author: maa

Description (CMS Description)
Kava root
Event Date 1/6/1996
Author: maa

Context (Display)
Object exhibited in the 125th Anniversary Exhibition case [info from removal slip signed 'E. Hand' found with the object during the Fijian Art project, 2011-2014]
Event Date 1/5/2009
Author: Lucie Carreau

Description (CMS Description)
Large (and old) yaqona root (the plant must have been at least six or seven years old).
Event Date 10/10/2012
Author: maa

Context (CMS Context)
Labels & inscriptions: Inscribed on the root [in black ink:] 'Presented to Lady Gordon by the Vunivalu with his big canoe. Nasova. Fiji. Nov 20 1877. NA VUKE NI VANUA'. On the root [in black ink:] 'Z. 3320'. A small cream label attached to a metal ring drilled in the root reads [handwritten in black ink:] 'Kava together presented to Lady Gordon with the great double canoe the Vuke ni Vanua' [on the other side:] 'by the Vuni walu (Cakobau) which [?]sailed in state from Bau to Nasova 18[?]5'.
Event Date 24/3/2014
Author: Lucie Carreau

Context (CMS Context)
Exhibited: 'Chiefs & Governors: Art and power in Fiji', Cambridge MAA, 7 June 2013 - 19 April 2014.
Event Date 25/4/2014
Author: Remke van der Velden