Leg rattles worn on Vanuvatu.

A leg rattle from the Fiji Museum.

The leg rattle is still used in meke performances. Learn more about the leg rattle.

The derua (ndee-ruh-ah), or stamping tube, is being used on Vanuavatu.

The derua is stamped on the ground to create a loud percussive sound. Visit the George Kingsley Roth Online Recording Archive to listen to the stamping tube.

The derua is still used in meke performances today. Learn more about the derua.

The lali (Lah-lee) is a canoe-shaped wooden gong. These are the larger village lali on Vanuvatu.

These are the village lali on Totoya. Visit George Kingsley Roth's Online Recording Archive to listen to lali beats.

The larger village lalis were used for communication. Because of their ability to carry sound over a large distance, specific rhythms were able to communicate news of specific events.

Smaller lalis, (lali ni meke) are often used in meke performances. Here are Lali ni Meke from the Fiji Museum. Learn more about lali.

This lali ni meke is from Solodomo Kadavu. Listen to the lali beating on George Kingsley Roth's Online Archive.

The civi (thee-vee), is a dwarf nut whistle.

One variation of the nut whistle may have been worn as an ornament by chiefs.

Another variation of the nut whistle may have been used by children as a toy whistle.

Any other traditional use of the nut whistle seems to be unknown.

The davui (ndah-voo-ee) is a conch shell trumpet. This is a photo of a side blown davui from the Fiji Museum. Visit the George Kingsley Roth Recording Archive to listen to the davui.

The davui was traditionally used to announce important events. This is a photo of an end blown davui from the Fiji Museum. Learn more about the davui.

The bitu ni vakatagi (Mbee-too nee vah-kah-tahn-gee) is a nose flute. This bitu is from the collection in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. Visit the George Kingsley Roth archive to listen to the bitu.

It appears that the nose flute was most often played from a lying down position. Watch Kaveni Tamani play the nose flute.

Bitu means "bamboo"; vakatagi and sanisani denote the type of bamboo that is used to make the instrument. These are nose flutes from the Fiji Museum. Learn more about the bitu.

George Kingsley Roth documented traditions and customs in Fiji from the early 1930s until his death in 1960, and his archives are referenced throughout this gallery. Learn more about George Kingsley Roth. Photo from Amazon.