Lakatoi (trading canoe)

[john sefton]

The 7c stamp shows a lagatoi (lakatoi) of the Motuan people, who originally came from the distant West and have always been recognised as seafarers and travellers. When the Christian martyr, Rev. James Chalmers, was alive, the Motu tribe controlled coastal waters from Bald Head in the West to Kerepuna in the East. They numbered 2,000 strong and were inveterate traders, exchanging their local clay pottery utensils for the much-prized sago palm. The missionary described the lakatoi and its crew as follows: ‘There are six officers in all — one fore and one aft, two for the mast and two for the sail. For a long time the captain has been sacred.”
The construction of the lagatoi is such: four large canoes are lashed together, then bulwarks are made from leaves of the nipa palm, sewn together, well fastened with long strong mangrove poles, and caulked with dried banana leaves. A stage is made all round, so the sailors can work her without getting inside the bulwarks. Masts of mangrove with the roots are stepped on to the centre, and large sails, made of mats all sewn together and shaped like crab toes, are fixed for working with ropes made from the bark of the large yellow hibiscus. The anchor is a large stone made fast with long canes, sometimes 100 fathoms in length. Fore and aft are small covered-in houses. There are strong divisions of wicker-work in each canoe, into which pottery is put, each division having an owner. The pottery is well packed with dried banana leaves, and only when thrown ashore in a gale do they have much breakage.
Today their descendants make irregular voyages to some coastal villages, but their craft have outboard motors. Their trade is not only sago but other cash products such as betelnut, coconut and bananas.

Sea Breezes May 1975 Ernest Argyle
Papua SG9/8 Papua New guinea SG10. 245. 277.

[Arturo]

Lakatoi (Trading Canoe)

Papua New Guinea, 1932, S.G.?, Scott: 104.

Papua New Guinea, 1999, S.G.?, Scott: 976.

Papua New Guinea, 1999, S.G.?, Scott: 977.

[aukepalmhof]

Papau New Guines 1988 35t sg 575, scott? 2002 sg919/24 and sgMS 925 13.10K and 1984 10t sg 487, scott The lakatoi is on the left of the stamp. The other vessel is HMS NELSON of 1876. (most probably HMS ALERT of 1876 is depicted and not HMS NELSON)

Every year the Hiri Moale Festival still takes place at Ela Beach, Port Moresby at the time of Independence. The Festival is a celebration of the traditional times when the Motu/Koitabu people travelled west in lagatoi to trade pots for sago with the people of Kerema and other Gulf places. The stories of these voyages undertaken by their ancestors are considered very significant, and young people today like to watch the lagatoi arrive at Ela Beach greeted by the dancing girls in their grass skirts and the beating of the drums. Yes, the pageantry of the moment continues. The festival also features traditional dances, the Hiri Queen Hiri Hanenamo Contest, canoe racing, musical presentations, and an arts and crafts exhibition. Each year the winner of the Hiri Hanenamo is given a trip to Townsville. The connections with the two sister cities, Townsville and Port Moresby continue.

Source: Sailing for Survival by Mary R Mennis.