The red-lipped Spondylus, white mollusk, and the black mussel are the three kinds of shells used to make the disks. Ten strings of red, black and white shell disks connected with spacer bars of wood or turtle-shell were the most common. The making of shell money is normally done by the girls and women. They first break the shells into small circular pieces, about twice the size of the finished piece, with a black stone hammer called a falbura. Now solid metal cylinders are used to make the process faster. The Romu shell is at this time heated by placing the shell on very hot stones which turn the normally pink shells deeper red in color. The circular shells are then placed on a piece of wood called ma-ai ,which has about 50 shallow circular depressions and is used to flatten the shell disks and make them smooth. The flat rectangular grinding stone used is called fou-sava. They then shape them and then drill the holes with a pump drill called futa. This drill had a flint or chalcedony tip, but now modern drills made of steel are used. Tafuliae' were also used as the compensation payment for many transgressions, such as cutting a banana, ivory-nut or coconut tree; burning a house; trespassing on private land or house; slandering a woman; swearing at a pig; stepping over a woman's feet; and desecration of a burial ground. At present many of the natives still use shell money to purchase brides, even as they use modern money in everyday business. Tradition still demands the use of shell money on many occasions. The string is over 9 feet long with 10 strands. It is a major form of money in the Solomons.