

Piece of barkcloth (Bedamuni: abura, tugè). Used as a head decoration by dancers and boys who are to be initiated. The piece of bark is fixed to the hair of the dancers or initiands with a bone needle (eg, the needle used for making upper-arm bracelets, 1982.118.vi). Various types of decoration can be found on the barkpieces.
The beating of the bark (abura, Fig, Ficus sp) is done by women. The zig-zag decoration is applied with red earth (apusi).