Tabua, whale tooth or not?

Peter Waqatairewa talks about Tabua, whale teeth, Fiji's most valuable cultural artefact.
Rights: © Australian Museum and Peter Waqatairewa
Producer: Finton Mahony
Presenter:Peter Waqatairewa
Transcript
The is the tabua, which is from the teeth of a sperm whale, and it is Fiji's most valuable artefact. To give you an illustration of how valuable it is, in the olden days if one of the chiefs during the tribal warfare would like a rival to be killed, and he couldn't do it himself, he'll take this tabua to another tribe and ask them. And once they accept it they will go after that other chief.
It was presented in the 19th century from one chieftain to another chief, to kill an Australian missionary. That's how important it is. It's also used as a bride-price when families -- they approach another family for a bride, they take a tabua. And if it's accepted it's the first stage of the ritual of getting married.
It can be used as anything, just like money. For land, purchase of land. Traditionally they approach for a piece of land, they present a tabua. That's how important it is. It's currency for life and death in Fiji.

[@stratocaster1greg]

I have both its a walrus tusk.

[@HarryPottard]

Thats a Walrus tusk 🤣🤣🤣 caitaaaah

[@ginabateman8896]

not a whale tooth

[@hultonclint]

The way Peter explains this is very confusing. Is there just one, or is this an example of many? Do they all look like this? Who keeps/owns them/it?

[@ardiusfidelis6568]

That is a Walrus Tusk. It's not a whale tooth

[@sivovimosoi9882]

It's a whale tooth

[@jerryssalamon709]

It's a walrus tusk, and it's from a young one. No sperm whale would have one that long and narrow.

[@stuballs42]

Sorry don't believe its a whale tooth, I personally believe is an old Walrus Tusk !

[@camarena555]

Did he just say it was presented to kill an Australia Missionary @ 0:34 ??

[@RikthDcruze]

yes

[@tosoviti6121]

Reverend Thomas Baker who offended a chief by taking a comb out of the chief’s hair. He had stayed at the chiefs village and left his own comb laying around… if you do that, the chief has the right to use it… Baker didn’t understand this cultural rule and just took the comb straight from the chief’s hair, thus breaking a tabu and effectively signing his own death warrant

[@chaosablesFJ]

Ima Fijian Bula