Tahiti

Want to read the rest of this paper? Join Essayworld today to view this entire essay and over 50,000 other term papers

schools in Tahiti, as well as a large adult education program. Vocational training includes hotel, restaurant, nursing and teaching programs.


Arts and culture

As weaving was unknown in the old days, tapa cloth was made by women from the bark of the paper mulberry, breadfruit, and banyan trees.

The boughs were soaked in a river for several days, the outer bark then stripped off and the inner bark separated from it. The softened inner bark was placed on a block of wood and beaten with a mallet. When the tapa was of a uniform thickness it was dried in the sun and dyed. Floral or geometric patterns were printed or painted on.

Early missionaries introduced the Tahitians to quilting, and two-layer patchwork tifaifai have now taken the place of tapa (bark cloth). Used as bed covers and pillows by tourists, Tahitians still use tifaifai to cloak newlyweds and cover coffins.

To be wrapped in a tifaifai is the highest honor. Each woman has individual quilt patterns, which are her ...

Get instant access to over 50,000 essays. Write better papers. Get better grades. Already a member? Login

CITE THIS PAGE: