Was used in the Solomon Islands and western Pacific.
The TOMOKO is a well-known war canoe of the islanders of Santa Isabel, New Georgia, and other nearby islands.
Used in head-hunting and slave forays until the early 20th century.
Characterized by a very tall stem and sternpost that were decorated along the outer edges with cowrie’s shells. At the bow, a small carved figurehead was secured just above the waterline to ward off “waterfiends” and watch for reefs.
Double-ended plank built; edges of strakes bevelled and sewn together. At the ends, the planks were bound together with 2 or more seizing’s; ribs lashed through holes in the longitudinal ridges left in each strake.
A wide, shallow “U” in cross section; ends of hulls curved up from the bottom; vertical end pieces as tall as 3.7m, the stern ca. 46cm higher in order to protect against enemy arrows. Besides the cowrie shells, the end pieces were carved, decorated with feathers, and ornamented with inlaid nautilus shells; outside of hull stained black.
Undecked; paddlers sat on the bottom or on thwarts, 2 abreast; in the centre of large canoes, a platform held food and often heads of the victims. Number of paddlers ranged from 20 – 100.
Occasionally sailed, using 1 – 2 demountable masts setting spritsails.
Reported length 12 – 18m; e.g. length 13.4m, beam 1.4m, depth 0.7m.
Solomon Islands 1973 35c sg239, scott?
Solomon Islands 2012 $9 sg?, scott? and 2012 $9 sg?, scott? (the canoe depict on this stamp is also a TOMOKO but more a modern type used nowadays for racing etc.)
From, Aak to Zumbra, a dictionary of the World’s Watercraft.
TOMOKO war canoe
Re: TOMOKO war canoe
Tomoko (War Canoe)
The first stamps of British Solomon Islands depicts a “tomoko”, the great war canoe typical of the New Georgia group. The natives of this group were in the habit of making raids upon the neighboring islands, taking human heads and capturing slaves.
Lenght of 60 feet and crews of 50 are recorded for these canoes. The “tomoko” making the last raid on Ysabel about 1900, had a lenght of 44 feet, beam 4 ft, 8 ins., depth 2 ft. 4 ins., height of bow 9 ft. 7 ins., height of stern 10 ft. 9 ins.
The bow and stern of all war canoes were patterned with beautiful inland work of mother-of-pearl, and strings of cowries were secured all the way down the great prows. Low down on the prow was the head and shouldres of a Totoishu whose purpose was to keep off the Keseko, or water fiens, who might the winds and waves to upset the canoes so that they might fall on and devour the crew.
These canoes are strained black outside while the inside is left uncolored. The launching of a new “tomoko” was attended by ceremonies which are described as terrible, as was the purpose of the canoes.
Solomon Islands 1907, S.G.?, Scott: 2.
Solomon Islands 1908, S.G.?, Scott: 10.
Source: Miscallenous Watercrafts by Stirling Cameron (WP)
The first stamps of British Solomon Islands depicts a “tomoko”, the great war canoe typical of the New Georgia group. The natives of this group were in the habit of making raids upon the neighboring islands, taking human heads and capturing slaves.
Lenght of 60 feet and crews of 50 are recorded for these canoes. The “tomoko” making the last raid on Ysabel about 1900, had a lenght of 44 feet, beam 4 ft, 8 ins., depth 2 ft. 4 ins., height of bow 9 ft. 7 ins., height of stern 10 ft. 9 ins.
The bow and stern of all war canoes were patterned with beautiful inland work of mother-of-pearl, and strings of cowries were secured all the way down the great prows. Low down on the prow was the head and shouldres of a Totoishu whose purpose was to keep off the Keseko, or water fiens, who might the winds and waves to upset the canoes so that they might fall on and devour the crew.
These canoes are strained black outside while the inside is left uncolored. The launching of a new “tomoko” was attended by ceremonies which are described as terrible, as was the purpose of the canoes.
Solomon Islands 1907, S.G.?, Scott: 2.
Solomon Islands 1908, S.G.?, Scott: 10.
Source: Miscallenous Watercrafts by Stirling Cameron (WP)
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Re: TOMOKO war canoe
Tomoko
In the miniature sheet, on the stamp 9d, shows two canoe:in front-TOMOKO,behind-canoe of “LISI” type.On the stamp shows bow “tomoko”,decorated with feasers and ornamented with inlaid nautilus shells,and below may to see a small carved figurehead.
Solomon Islands1939;2,5d;SG64. 1984;1d;SG? 1956;0,5d;SG82. 1d;SG83. 2,5d;SG86. Solomon Islands1988;80c;SG618;2012;9d;SG?
In the miniature sheet, on the stamp 9d, shows two canoe:in front-TOMOKO,behind-canoe of “LISI” type.On the stamp shows bow “tomoko”,decorated with feasers and ornamented with inlaid nautilus shells,and below may to see a small carved figurehead.
Solomon Islands1939;2,5d;SG64. 1984;1d;SG? 1956;0,5d;SG82. 1d;SG83. 2,5d;SG86. Solomon Islands1988;80c;SG618;2012;9d;SG?
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