War club, collected by the U.S. Exploring Expedition in Fiji. Wooden clubs like this were collected en masse, usually when the Fijians were hurling them at the crew! During the expedition’s extensive survey of Fiji, Wilke’s own nephew and another crewman were killed during fights with Fijians. In addition to its islanders’ hostility, Fiji’s jagged coral reefs made it a treacherous place to navigate.
Caption:
This war club was collected by the U.S. Exploring Expedition in Fiji.
Type: Artifact
Image Date: 2013
Credit: National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Origin: National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
