FEATHER-BRUSH-MONEY FROM THE SANDWICH ISLES.
In another instance, the feathers are arranged to form something like a brush, the brush itself being made of the coloured tufts or portions of birds' plumage, while the handle is composed of strands of plaited grass. This sort of money was obtained in rather a cruel way, for the birds who were despoiled of their brilliant feathers were not killed before the operation; their bright plumage was plucked from their living bodies, and then the birds were allowed to fly away again. No doubt in the course of time the feathers grew again, when the birds would be caught and the operation performed once more.
MONEY BY FATHOMS—A FATHOM OF SHELL-MONEY.
The particular home of the feather currency was the Sandwich Islands, the natives of which made gorgeous robes and helmets for their chiefs and kings out of these much-prized feathers. A third example is of what is known as Flying-Fox-Money. The fur of the flying-fox is made into cords, as shown in the illustration, and is very good "money" indeed in the Loyalty Islands.
COWRY-SHELL-MONEY | FISH-HOOK-MONEY.
One of the most elementary forms of currency is Adze-Money, and the specimen selected for presentation here comes from these same Loyalty Islands. This adze blade is of jade, and I am told that it represents "the price of a fat man for cannibal purposes."
How enormously valuable such adzes as these are is shown by a statement that any native who becomes possessed of one is regarded by his fellows as a millionaire, and in a certain tribe which possessed but one such adze the coveted object was passed at the end of each week from one native to another. Its lucky possessor for the time being was regarded as the richest man in the world by all the others, who waited impatiently to become in their turn millionaires "for one week only."
