Early 20th century A.D. A pair of wooden 'spear' canoe paddles of traditional form and with the long leaf-shaped blades decorated with traditional carved patterns. 1.75 kg total, 179 cm long (70 1/4 in.). Acquired Mahe, Seychelles, 1943 by Gilbert Moir, cook aboard HMS Ethiopian. Property of Robert Moir, by inheritance from his late father, 2014. Accompanied by copies of photographs and service papers of Gilbert Moir. Accompanied by a signed hand written letter from Robert Moir describing the circumstances of acquisition. While berthed in the Seychelles for several months in 1943, the ship suffered an act of sabotage to the engines by a crew member which extended the ship's stay in port; the subsequent board of enquiry, while not being able to discover who was guilty, recommended that the entire engine-room crew be dispersed to other ships. Had the guilty person or people been identified, they would of course have faced the death penalty for an act of sabotage during wartime service. The paddles were acquired on the island of Mahe from a local person in exchange for a large tin of corned beef. [2]