Paddle-shaped Tongan pakipaki (club) with a double carved ridge below the head.

This club is made of toa wood (casuarina equisetifolia or she-oak), and beautifully worked. It's paddle shape relates to the voyaging heritage of Tonga, in which canoe paddles would have doubled as weapons and oars. Paddles are also used in Tongan dance, a sign of male skill and prowess.

Such plain designs are typical of those collected on Cook's 2nd voyage voyage, as it would have been carved with stone tools. Trade in iron tools with the Tongan's during the voyage encouraged development of more elaborate carvings which are evident on clubs collected on the third voyage.