"Figures attached to the prows of canoes, just above the waterline (photo) were assocaited with a spirit called Kesoko who was a skillful fisherman and head hunter. The prow figure protected the canoe and it passengers in either of two ways: by protecting against malevolent kesoko spirits who would cause the wind and waves to overtrun the canoe so they could consume the passengers, or by helping kesoko pilot the canoe through difficult waters and look out for enemies."