Ta Ka

The while the heartwood is used for building purposes, the sapwood of the ta ka tree native to the Western Isles is used to make ta ka garments. The wood is remarkably malleable, and a beating technique causes it to soften. Long strands of this are threaded together to make thin, narrow, and very long sheets to be wrapped around the body in a certain way.

Manufacturing process

Fell the ta ka tree; strip the bark to the layer of sapwood; carefully peel away strands of sapwood as long as desired cloth; beat on rock with mallet until soft and fine (some collect the juices interweave horizontal ties

Significance

Cultural clothing specific to O gon Ti Vl Ai'Ai

Item type

Clothing / Accessory

Related ethnicities

• Honru

Rarity

Very common

Weight

<1 kg

Dimensions

Commonly ~.5m x 5m

Raw materials & Components

Strands of ta ka sapwood

Tools

Mallet for beating (and axe for chopping tree if that hasn't already been done)