Faked Cook Is. Artifacts
p. 28 · Read in the full issue
How a Tourist Tried To Combine Profit with a Holiday
From Our Own Correspondent
Rarotonga, July 20
UOME time ago mention was made in these columns regarding the export of irreplacable native artifacts from the Cook Group. In particular, attention was drawn to several apparently unique speci mens of stone adzes, battle-axes, etc.
To local residents who remember the somewhat pompous gentleman who spent much of his visit collecting these articles, the story had an amusing sequel when it was lately revealed that a number of his “trophies” were the most blatant fakes.
Not being able to obtain some of the rarer specimens which he wanted, the gentleman resorted to the simple expedi ent of providing a native with line draw ings taken from the Material Cudure of the Cook Islands (Dr. Peter H. Buck) and telling him to get on with the job.
In this way he acquired a very toler able collection.
On leaving Rarotonga last year he for warded several of these “on approval” to the Bishop Museum at Honolulu, where they were promptly pronounced fakes, and in connection with their manufacture official enquiries were made by the Museum to the Resident Commissioner.
These resulted in the local police obtain ing a signed statement from the native craftsman concerned—who had acted in all good faith—but whose admission left no doubt about the ambition of at least one visitor to combine profit with a pleasant holiday.