Item X 15180 Armour. Micronesia, Gilbert Islands, Kiribati. pre 1909

Summary

This is a pair of leg guards used with other garments and worn as armour. In the Gilbert Islands, these garments were made from coconut fibre and woven into a suit of armour to protect the wearer during man to man combat. The dried skin of a Puffer Fish made an adequate helmet to protect the head during combat, while dried shark and ray skin provided protection for other exposed parts of the body. Young boys from an early age were instructed in the arts of war, in particular how to handle the swords and knives whose edges were lined with sharks' teeth.

Physical Description

A pair of trousers made from coconut fibre.