Bark cloth is a woman's art. It is made from the carefully prepared bark of the paper mulberry tree, which is soaked, dried, and pounded into a supple, soft cloth. Known in Fiji as masi, bark cloth was highly valued and made a lavish gift for important occassions. This example has the highly detailed, densely realized designs that distinguish the better masi. The patterns are hand-painted with natural dyes over a stencil. Decorative rather than symbolic, the designs are meant to add to the beauty and value of the cloth. The long, thin shape is typical of masi, which had a vareity of uses but was most often worn ceremonially by people of chiefly rank.