A sacred tabule decorated with white cowrie shells is fastened to the front of a kula sailing canoe (sailau) behind the splashboard (balagai) and supported with a metre- long wooden pole to keep it upright, firm and steady while out at sea. The shells swing and rattle as the bow of the sailing canoe ploughs into the waves, creating a unique music that spurs on the sailors. Photo courtesy of Sanakoli John “Sailors know that before their canoe sinks, before they try to save themselves or others from drowning, they must first destroy the tabule or it will turn into a great shark or sea monster and devour them all”
3.5km long and less than 1km wide island in Milne Bay’s Engineer Group.
“This is part of our Massim (southeast Milne Bay region)
sailing culture and is still practiced today.” The desire to share
Sailors know that before their canoe
Watts Island teenager Serah
sinks, before they try to save themselves or others from drowning, they must first destroy the tabule or it will turn into a great shark or sea monster and devour them all. “As young men are taught the skills to sail, they are also educated about this special tabule and how important it is to respect it,” Mathew says. The tabule is a slender piece of wood and easily breakable with your bare hands or by using another piece of wood, says Mathew.
Aisipen in her grass skirt ready for the traditional dances
supernatural power from the master canoe builders and chiefs who use spells and rituals while they are making it, and this provides protection to the sailors – keeping them safe and giving their voyage luck and success. But beware. The tabule has a dark side. If the canoe was to capsize, it becomes “like a curse” to the sailors, says Mathew Tabunaielo, who grew up hearing the stories on Watts Island (local name Kwaraiwa), a tiny
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