In Samoa, Polynesia, as in many tropical countries, people produce a bast cloth called tapa. In order to make tapa, Samoans peel the bark off young trees (such as <i>brussoneta papyrifera</i>), scratch the fiber from the bark (under running water), and beat it until it is smooth. The strip of tapa is then dried and adhered to other strips to form a large piece of cloth. Tapa can be decorated through block-printing, painting, or dyeing. The manufacturing of tapa is typically a woman's occupation. Tapa has been used in clothing, and it remains important in ceremonial gifts.