IDNO

P.99977.VH

Description

Ro Matanitobua, Tui Namosi. See P.99903.VH. [Fergus Clunie, 14/7/2003]

Cropped portrait of Ro Matanitobua, the Tui Namosi, high chief of Namosi in the southern highlands, and an untamed or unreformed Kai Colo or Vitilevu highlander.
He retains his ululevu or “big head” of hair, and is wearing a malo loincloth, the badge of circumcised and initiated Fijian manhood in the days of the Fijian religion. His hair ornaments are probably filmy tendrils of macerated, striped and frazzled coconut leaf. He has a qato or lavei bracelet made from a sici or trochus shell above the left elbow.
Circa 1869 - early 1870s. [Fergus Clunie, 14/7/2003, from record P.99903.VH, updated JD 19/1/2012]

Physical Condition: Print mounted onto card.

Place

Oceania Polynesia; Fiji; Ovalau Island; ?Levuka; southern Vitilevu; Namosi

Cultural Affliation

Kai Colo

Named Person

Ro Matanitobua

Photographer

?Dufty Brothers, Levuka

Collector / Expedition

von Hügel, Anatole (Baron)

Date

circa 1869 - 1875

Collection Name

von Hügel Collection

Source

von Hügel, Anatole (Baron)

Format

Print Black & White Mounted

Primary Documentation

Other Information

P.99726.VH to P.100050.VH were in the belted folder now numbered C539/3/. This was formerly kept in paper archive Large Box G; VH1/4/5. It has now been transferred to the photo archive. The lists describing the contents of this box have been returned to the Paper Archive.

Related Image: This print or negative appears to be the original image at MAA from which the associated photographs have been derived from. [JD 19/1/2012]

This print has been catalogued with the support of the Getty Grant Fund. [A. Nadin, 13/10/2003]