Title: Tolai Shell Currency (referred to as Tambu or Tabu)
Material: Rock snail shells (nassarius arcularis jonasii)
People: Tolai
Country: East New Britain Province of Papua New Guinea
Description: The length of the strung shell strands averaged about six feet with approximately 320 shells which were then rolled into large hoops. The shells were used for settling disputes and 'payback', bartering for produce, used for bride price as well as being regarded as a prestige symbol, and along with goods and cash was the customary method of acquiring land.
