Drum, pahu ′upa ′upa, of wood, shark-skin, and coconut fibre, from the Society Islands (probaby Tahiti); part of the Forster collection (Forster 25; 1886.1.1518)

Cylindrical standing drum, carved from a single piece of wood, possibly pua (Fragraea berteriana) or reva (Cerbera manghas). The base is carved to form a ring, connected to the upper resonating chamber by nine legs. The skin is shark (the smoothed-off dermal denticles can clearly be seen under the microscope), tensioned with plaited coconut fibre cord, which is passed through the skin and around the base

• Museum database entry.