Vanagi-canoe of Port Moresby

[Anatol]

The small indigenous canoes (vanagi) of Port Moresby have long sharp ends; the bow more particularly is usually produced into a long spur which is flat above and below, but some ends are square.The sides of the spur, which generally converge in a wedgelike manner, may be decorated and provided with perforations from which tassels may depend. A pole made of mangrove with red bark is fastened on each gunwale from bow to stern where its end is lashed to the terminal spur . The booms lie on these poles and over them are lashed two other poles , which are of wood or bamboo. They extend from the stem to the first boom or slightly beyond it, with their aft ends lashed to the stern spur and their fore ends lashed to the hull. Coconut cloth, the sheath of the leaf, is placed beneath the lower pole of each side, this covers its inner side and passes, over the upper pole and downward over the outside of the lower pole. The cloth is kept in position by having the two skies sewn together below the upper pole and by a split bamboo , which is fastened over the cloth and below the lower pole on the outside of the hull . The lower edge of the cloth is trimmed off below the bamboo . The screen is closely parked inside with dried banana leaves. A split bamboo lath is sometimes lashed over the cloth that covers the upper pole. This structure forms a weather-screen which extends from the stern to the fore boom . A small vertical breakwater fills up the space between the weather-screens at the stem and is packed to keep out the water. When there is no weather-screen may be one or two thwarts. The weather-screen might extend from end to end, but in the larger canoes it extended only as far as the fore boom. It was explained that when fishing in more or less calm water the canoe normally travels bow foremost. When fishing it is more convenient to have the fore end of the canoe unenclosed by the screen. The polers prefer to stand on the edges of the dugout and this is easier if the screen is absent, otherwise they are liable to be tripped up. If a large canoe rides heavily it is sometimes necessary to enclose the whole length and put up with the inconvenience. At the present time the screen is often replaced by a washstrike and the fore and aft ends of the dugout are also boarded over. The booms pass through the weather screens that is, between the two gunwale poles and were formerly always six in number ; now there may be five or seven. The ends of the booms which project over the off side of the hull bear a narrow platform for the crew to sit upon. This consists of one or two planks and a stringer or there may be two or more stringers. A similar platform on the outrigger side is used for nets and other gear. Formerly its stringer was prolonged toward the stern , to which it was lashed, and the three planks were of corresponding length. Тhey, as well as the planks of the off platform, were supported by a thwart pole . The stern extension of the platform was formerly a constant feature, though now it may he absent. There may be a fireplace on the platform. Frequently there is a stringer about the middle of the length of the booms and there may be another where the oblique connectives are fastened to the booms. The booms should be made of mangrove, but the stringer may be made of any kind of wood. The float is shorter than the hull and is pointed and raked at the ends, it may be made of any kind of wood. The typical attachment consists of a pair of crossed sticks mangrove wood, on the crossing of which the boom rests, and an oblique stick, which arises below the cross, passes upward and inward to be attached to the boom. Often there is a second oblique stick which passes upward and outward and is fastended to the boom beyond the crossed sticks. These canoes were frequently rigged for sailing with a rectangular or triangular mat work sail but this has in the neighborhood of Port Moresby been entirely replaced by a European sail and rig. The sail was made of plaited, a river plant, presumably a kind of rush. Pandanus leaf is not used by the Motu for these sails.The edge of the mat sail was bound all around over a bolt-rope.On each side it was attached to a vertical spar by a series of loops of a light rope called rosi not by a continuous lacing. The two sail spars spread out somewhat to a V shape. The vertical spars were mangrove poles such as those used for poling canoes. There was no kind of fixture for stepping them: when the sail was set they were simplv allowed to stand on their bases in the bottom of the canoe.The use of the sail and spars was purely temporary and there was no regular fixed mast . The canoe always sailed with the outrigger to windward; when it was necessary to go about the sail was shifted to the opposite end of the hull.
Papua New Guinea 2009;K6.00;SG?
Sources:A. Haddon, John. Hornell: Canoes of Oceania.1937.Volume II. http://www.cherini.eu/etnografia/Oceania/Oceania.html