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The golden-lipped pearl shell was obtained by trade from Florida Island, from
which the Malaita name, "dahi," also derived. Ivens points out that the fashion
of wearing pearl shell crescent and disk-shaped ornaments originated in central
Polynesia; they were especially noted on Tahitian mourning costumes. The introduction
of dahi to the southeastern Solomon Islands is attributed to influence and trade
with Polynesian members of whaling crews during the early 19th century. See
similar example without tortoise shell pendant in Hurst, Norman. Power and Prestige.
1997. Cambridge: Hurst Gallery (Cats. 19 and 22, page 26. See also Ivens, W.G.
1972 [1927] Melanesians of the Southeast Solomon Islands. New York: Benjamin
Blom, Inc. |
