THE POLYNESIAN FLESH PLUGS
POLYNESIAN EAR PLUGS
As a form of adornment, ear plugs or ear stretchers are worn in a slit in the ear lobe, preparing it for the large Polynesian earring. The stretcher consists of two short pieces of bamboo forced apart and so held by two short crosspieces inserted between them. Straight incised lines generally ornament the bamboo ear stretcher. The plugs are considered decorative. Some carved wooden plugs are shaped like elongated gourds. The outer end is often ornamented with straight incised lines. A long ear slit is desired because the people consider the effect most beautiful when the flesh swings and dangles at the bottom. Over time, if the earrings, stretchers and plugs are removed, the slit contracts from an inch and a half or more to a quarter of an inch or less in length.
In the 19th century, Micronesians carved ear plugs from bone. On one large, flat end of these plugs, there is the hollowed center of the bone where the marrow had been. Along the shaft, like a tooth protruding from the base, there is a Tiki-like character carved from the same parent material.
EASTER ISLAND PLUGS
In his book Aku-Aku, Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl wrote that at one time there lived on Easter Island the survivors of two distinct populations: the long-ears, a fair- or red-headed European people who used to stretch their earlobes with wooden plugs so that they reached down to their shoulders; and a Polynesian group, with natural ears. The first people had been known on the island as long-ears, the second people as short-ears. In ancient Polynesia, both men and women wore ear plugs. Over 60 percent of the population plugged one ear, with half as many wearing plugs in both ears.
FLAMING TIKI FLESH PLUG
Tiki is the name given to large carvings of humanoid form in Central Eastern Polynesian cultures of the Pacific Ocean. These carvings often serve to mark the boundaries of sacred land. Flesh plugs are short, cylindrical pieces of jewelry used to ornament and stretch the circumference of body piercings, most commonly in the ear. Plugs are made of various materials, including stainless steel, titanium, glass, plastic, wood, shell, horn and bone. Contemporary Polynesian flesh plugs feature Tiki designs for those who love traditional and tribal themes.
http://www.bodyjewelleryshop.com/online_store/pmma_ikon_flesh_plug_ikon_plug_flaming_tiki_4628425.cfm
THE BUTT PLUG
The Butt Plug has a flat base, a thin bottom and a flared and tapered shaft. The flared base is to prevent it from being sucked into the rectum—the anal sphincter blocks the rectum; however, the rectum will suck in anything inserted into it. One should never insert anything into the anus that does not have a flared base or a retrievable handle.
Butt plugs are designed to fill space in the anus, decreasing the interior vaginal capacity for women and stimulating the prostate for men, resulting in greatly increased sensations and more intense orgasms for both men and women. Anal plugs are not meant to be moved around, only inserted and left there during regular sexual activities. Many people wear butt plugs during masturbation because of the increase in sensation. Beginners usually use a small butt plug; as time goes on, the anus gets trained to accommodate larger sizes with more comfort and pleasure.
POLYNESIAN BUTT PLUG
The Tongan butt plug (mata’usi ‘umosi) is a more recent innovation. Carved of koa wood and finished with Danish oil, it is a handsome artifact to behold. The function of the Polynesian Butt Plug (PBP) is purely symbolic and ceremonial. It is used in neo-tribal rituals and celebrations. In Modern Primitive festivals, the initiated, rubbed down with coconut oil, dance wildly while frenetically gesticulating with the butt plug. The festive dance celebrates fecundity and prostate health.
The intricately carved design is similar to Tongan war clubs. On the upper end of the shaft one can see what appear to be incised Tiki-like eyes reminiscent of carvings of the Polynesian god Tongaroa. The ribbed ornamentation on the shaft has lead to bizarre speculations that its function is similar to a ribbed condom—that is, to enhance pleasure. But that is wholly incorrect, as any attempt to insert the roughly carved object into the anus would severely harm the anal membrane.
In the L.A. Weekly, Dave Shulman wrote an informative article on the history, function and lore of the mata’usi ‘umosi. According to Shulman, “I knew that some people liked to put things up their asses, but hadn’t considered the possibility that one day I’d find, hanging on the wall at the end of a magazine rack, an assortment of brightly colored ‘Polynesian Butt-Plugs,’ in three sizes: finger-size, cock-size and baby-head-size (which I hoped was just for show). . . . Is there some historic link between Polynesia and butt-plugs? Are all butt-plugs Polynesian butt-plugs, so it’s just a more formal term, like Roman Catholicism? Or is this just a zany marketing strategy (‘Plug yer butt like a Polynesian!’), to make it seem exotic?”
Recently, Shulman exhibited the Polynesian Butt Plug in an exhibition entitled “Exhibit Dave” at Track 16 Gallery at Bergamot Station in Santa Monica, California. The exhibition included a blowup of the original article, a drawing, and finely crafted carving of the “one true” Polynesian Butt Plug. In a recent review of this exhibition, L.A. Weekly art critic Peter Frank wrote, “Dave Shulman proves that when L.A. Weekly columns are discontinued they become art — and that when said columnist turns to making art, it looks real good on the wall amid those ironic columns.”
The PBP is approved by Samoa News (Linking Samoans Worldwide), which has a link to the Shulman story: http://www.samoanews.com/Samoanlinks.html
TAHITI JOE’S VOLCANO “AHI” HOT SAUCE
A reference to the PBP is included in an ad for Polynesian hot sauce. Do you want to know why Tahiti’s Hot Sauces took [Tahiti Joe’s] original Polynesian Sauce, to make it hotter and still be able to keep the tropical flavor? Because all you chili heads loved the flavor of the Polynesian, but your endorphins craved more wela (heat). So Tahiti’s Hot Sauces gives you Volcano ahi (fire). A sauce that will put your ass on fire and leaves your waha (mouth) watering for more satisfying punishment. And the next time you’re grilling some tuna, be sure to splash on Volcano Ahi X Hot, a winning combination! P.S. Consult a Proctologist before using. P.S.S. Please don’t use a [Polynesian] butt plug to achieve the volcano affect.
http://www.hotsauceworld.com/hsw1879.html
