This cloth is produced in the Mosquito coast area that is located along the Caribbean between Nicaragua and Honduras. In Honduras this area is made up by the provinces of Gracias a Dios and Parts of the provinces of Colon and Olancho. This region has been isolated from the rest of the country because it is difficult to reach. Because of this the different  groups such as the Mesquites, Ladinos, Garífunas and Tawakas (now numbering 1000)and the Pechs (246 tribe members) have maintained their ethnicity and customs.

 The Tawakas make a linen like cloth from  an extract of inner bark of trees. They  obtain this extract from the Tuno tree (Castilla falax), the ficus tree and the rubber tree (Castilla elastica).

The process they use to produce this cloth is both difficult and time consuming. They must first mark off  a rectangle on the  surface of the tree trunk  using a machete. With that same tool they carefully peel off the bark and scrape off the soft interior separating it from the hard outer part . This step should not be undertaken when there is a new moon as the extract from the Tuno tree is too soft at that time and can be easily perforated. The “milk”extracted from the tree is left to curdle . It is then left overnight in the river to soften. Once dried it is scraped  again and the resulting product is left to dry in the sun for several days. The next step in the process is to wash it with soap or as is the case with the tuno, bleach. After it dries it is then beaten for two or three hours on a smooth tree trunk until it stretches and becomes soft and flexible. This is done with a short thick club-like instrument with grooves on the head. When this is done it is washed in the river and sun dried for one day before ironing and cutting into pieces the size and shape of which is determined by the use they intend to give it.

The Tawakhas traditionally made this cloth for utilitarian purpose such as making blankets or clothing. The natives  primitive beds were in fact mats( called TAKAL) made  using this process. The white extract from the Tuno tree was used by the shamans for their ceremonial robes. The shaman called a “sukia” would make different designs on them, usually red in color, using clay, coal or juice extracts.

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