We learnt more at this museum about Kanak history than the cultural centre.  Some of the handbags and food carrying and storing baskets, could have been made today.  The lobster pots and eel pots were exactly the same as modern ones, except made of woven plant fibres.  They also used to spin bat fur!.  These are some of the carvings that would go around the outside walls of the great hut, form the doorways or stick out the top of the hut.

 

 

These would be worn at rituals.  The mouth is where the eyes would be. Not a thing to meet on a dark night.

 

Fishing boat.

 

Live aboard and Stephen and I trying to look intelligent..

 

Loads of other creepy masks from other Pacific islands.

 

Not sure but pretty.

 

If I remember correctly, these were placed outside hut of someone who died – not in New Caledonia.  Anyway whoever the people were they did not believe people died a natural death.  So after death – caused by bad spirits or evil thoughts – they’d go and kill someone from a neighbouring village.  Amazing anyone survived –cos wouldn’t that village do the same thing?

 

 

Another spooky outfit from West Papua.