Coconut Press

This press in shape of fish and with monitor lizard motif in low relief. Used to press out cream from coconut meat. Meat is wrapped in cloth bag, bag placed in trough. Long pole is inserted at end of trough and brought down on the bagged coconut meat. Grooves in bottom of trough allow coconut cream to flow out; bowl underneath catches fluid. The long end (here terminating in a fish tail) is usually tied to a tree to keep it from flipping up. Maker: Murisigaie of Gupuna Village.