Buka Island canoe
Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2011 6:25 pm
A Buka canoe, is depicted on the 30c stamp. There are two types of canoe used by the Buka people, both types are known as “mon” but variations of the mon have their own distinguishing names. There is a plank vessel (muna) which is a typical mon with curved high bifid ends. This can accommodate two men sitting side by side.
Secondly, there is the dug-out with an outrigger, known as a “jinih”, ‘‘chini’’ or “sene’’. This craft is adapted to many sizes to carry from one to four or more persons. Of slender proportions it comes to a point at each end from which hangs down a short spur termed “hornbill” in the local languages.
The outrigger, which consists of “two long booms (kikilen)” a short distance apart and resting on the gunwales to which they are lashed and also to a stick (sokau) that passes right through the hull a short distance below each boom. It is placed amidships.
To construct these canoes, a tree is sought which is soft and malleable, one whose wood is full of holes made by insects that required filling with putty nut. In general the colours used to decorating both canoes and paddles are red, black, white and yellow in that order of importance.
Sea Breezes May 1975 Ernest Argyle
Papua New Guinea SG280
Secondly, there is the dug-out with an outrigger, known as a “jinih”, ‘‘chini’’ or “sene’’. This craft is adapted to many sizes to carry from one to four or more persons. Of slender proportions it comes to a point at each end from which hangs down a short spur termed “hornbill” in the local languages.
The outrigger, which consists of “two long booms (kikilen)” a short distance apart and resting on the gunwales to which they are lashed and also to a stick (sokau) that passes right through the hull a short distance below each boom. It is placed amidships.
To construct these canoes, a tree is sought which is soft and malleable, one whose wood is full of holes made by insects that required filling with putty nut. In general the colours used to decorating both canoes and paddles are red, black, white and yellow in that order of importance.
Sea Breezes May 1975 Ernest Argyle
Papua New Guinea SG280