Melanesia, Solomon Islands, Malaita Island, Galia

This shell money is called Galia and comes from Malaita in the Solomon Islands. It consists of many little shell discs that are not very finely finished. The shells are broken into small pieces, each then rounded by knocking of the corners. Then a hole is drilled in each disk and finally all of them are strung together. In earlier times Galia were in broad circulation on Malita; today they are only used to settle the bride price.