Spear, tao tau, of wood, from Tonga; part of the Forster collection (Forster 68; 1886.1.1508)

Wooden spear. The head is carved in one piece into eleven rings of backward-pointing flared barbs. There are seven of the smallest barbs, nearest the point, and the number reduces to five when the final ring is reached. The butt of the spear tapers towards the end furthest from the head, and, starting beneath the last set of barbs, is wrapped with plaited coconut fibre

• Museum database entry.