Walking Stick

A tokotoko (walking stick) with a pronounced corkscrew shape. There are two human faces near the top, the bottom one with a protruding tongue. There are letters carved on the inner surface of the spiral, and long thin pakati (dog's-tooth notches) in triangular sections on the outer. The inscription seems to be "HIEPOROKAI WHIRIA HIETOKOTO MOKUAEHI RAKAU PAIAEHIIAHA TE". The human faces and other parts of stick have lenticular shell-inlaid eyes, but several are missing. The stick is damaged near the bottom end.