A fine large bilo, or libation cup for kava. Chiefs and important men would have their own special cup of this sort, some were decorated with a large and important woven coconut fiber handle, for sacred and ceremonial occasions. The kava bearer would pour the liquid, taken from the great tanoa bowl, from his cup into the bilo of the man. When used for religious purposes the cup was generally placed on a woven coconut fiber ring on the floor of the great bure, or temple. Without touching the cup with his hands the priest sucked the intoxicating kava through a straw while kneeling on the ground. This unusual method of drinking kava called burau is indigenous while hand held cups seem to have come into vogue during the second half of the eighteenth century due to increasing Tongan influence. The outter shell is finely polished while the inside shows traces of dried kava deposits.

Western Highlands of Viti Levu Island, Fiji, Polynesia.

Coconut shell (old break and repaired). 12 x 17.6 Ø cm. XVIII/XIXth century.

Ref.: Clunie, Fergus: YALO i VITI. Fiji Museum, Suva. 1986.