IDNO

P.87285.VH

Description

Raphael Tuck & Sons postcard (1924) showing ibilibili bamboo house rafts from the interior of Vitilevu next to an over-water privy. Known latterly as H.M.S. No-Come-Back, these provided a convenient form of transport down the Wailevu or Rewa river system, proceeding by current and by poling. Most had a mud bottomed fireplace located at the stern. The bamboos were in demand on the coast for rafters and house wall panels.
Fiji government public relations photograph. [Fergus Clunie, 26/7/2003]

Place

Oceania Polynesia; Fiji; Rewa River

Cultural Affliation

Named Person

Photographer

Raphael Tuck & Sons Ltd [Publishers]

Collector / Expedition

von Hügel, Anatole (Baron)

Date

circa 1920 - 1924

Collection Name

Von Hugel Collection

Source

Format

Postcard Black & White

Primary Documentation

Other Information

P.87284.VH to P.87296.VH were in the print envelope now numbered C512/2/. This envelope came from the Museum’s paper archive envelope VH1/4/7, which has now been re-numbered C512/.

Publication: On Rod Ewins’ internet site ‘www.justpacific.com’:
““Houseboats on the river”.
Tuck’s Post Card. Publisher Raphael Tuck & Sons Ltd., By Appointment. Copyright Fiji Government, Printed in England.
No date. Probably around 1920. On the reverse is the caption: “Drifting down the Rewa River with food supplies for Suva”. This is an accurate statement, but the caption of “houseboats” is misleading, since these are not boats but rafts, and not houses but merely weather-shields. The bamboo rafts (bilibili) are made in the highlands upstream, and float downstream with their cargoes of bananas and other vegetable produce, poled along where possible and fended off the banks using the long poles visible in the centre of the picture. The thatched covers are to provide protection from sun and rain that would spoil them, as well as to shelter the attendants. No attempt is made to salvage the rafts when the trip is complete.” [Alex Nadin, 30/9/2003]

Publication: Duplicates of this postcard are on the websites ‘www.janeresture.com/fijihome/postcards.htm’ and
‘www.justpacific.com’ in the section concerning the photographs used on Fijian postcards. [Alex Nadin, 30/9/2003]

Related Image: This print or negative appears to be a unique image within the MAA Photograph Collections. [JD 26/12/2011]

This print has been catalogued with the support of the Getty Grant Program One. [Alex Nadin, 30/9/2003]