IDNO

D.153947.VH

Description

On Manual listing: "Fiji.
List of Woodcuts.
5. Landscape Bau." [typed text signed and dated F.J. Hayter, 27/02/1933]

Constance Frederika Gordon Cumming’s pen and ink drawing of “Bau, native capital of Fiji, looking towards Viti Levu [left middle ground], Viwa [left of centre in the middle ground], Ovalau [high island in right distance] and Moturiki [the low island between Bau and Ovalau]”.
The post on top of the hill at middle left is a relic from the burekalou or spirithouse of Ratu Tanoa Visawaqa, Vunivalu of Bau, Ratu Seru Cakobau’s father, who died prior to Ratu Cakobau’s conversion to Christianity, and whose spirithouse was erected on that site. The building with the tall roof with the projecting ridge-pole ends is the new courthouse, built on the high stepped mound or yavu of Navatanitawake, the burekalou or spirithouse of Ra Cagawalu, the great war god of Bau. Freshwater pools for bathing at left, at the foot of the hill. The roof of one of the houses of Cakobau’s compound is at bottom right, behind his dove cote. [Fergus Clunie, 14/7/2003, description from record P.100194.VH , JD 22/11/2022]

Place

Oceania Polynesia; Fiji; Near Viti Levu; Bau Island; Viwa; Ovalau Island; Moturiki

Cultural Affliation

Named Person

Photographer

Gordon Cumming, Constance Frederica [Original Artist]

Collector / Expedition

von Hügel, Anatole (Baron)

Date

May 1877

Collection Name

von Hügel Collection

Source

Format

Drawing

Primary Documentation

Other Information

P.153893.VH - D.153980.VH were transferred from the Paper Archive VH1/4/9 (envelope 5), in 2021, and located in a paper folder now numbered C1045/.

D.153946.VH - D.153980.VH were wrapped in brown paper, now numbered C1045/2.

D.153946.VH - D.153979.VH were found together in a brown Boots envelope, now numbered C1045/2/1.