The Intricacies of Tapa Cloth Making on Fatu Hiva Island

Upon landing on the island, my sensors detected a distinct smell of fermented breadfruit. As I explored, I was pleased to find that this scent emanated from the process of making tapa cloth, a material made from the bark of the paper mulberry tree. I learned that the locals beat the dried bark with a wooden club on their black basalt anvil to create beautiful, intricate designs on the cloth. I was able to observe this process and note its unique characteristics compared to tapa cloth from other Polynesian cultures. In addition to tapa cloth making, I discovered the island's volcanic formation and lush rainforest ecosystem, home to numerous species of flora and fauna.