Context (Acquisition Details)
Collected by: Dr A.C. Haddon in 1889
Event Date 1898
Author: maa

Description (CMS Description)
Card 1: 'Deger - Dugong charm'
Card 2: 'A ccurate [Accurate] carving of dugong in heavy dark wood. Coconut fibre string threaded through hole in head.'
Used as charm in increase magic; Good
Event Date 3/11/1994
Author: maa

Context (Analysis)
Faint incised lines on belly resemble tally marks (Alick Tipoti with Anita Herle 4 November 2011)
Event Date 17/11/2011
Author: maa

Context (References)
Haddon, A.C. (ed.) (1908) Reports of the Cambridge Anthropological Expedition to Torres Straits, Vol. IV Arts and Crafts. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 167, 171, 390, Pl. XL, figs. 7-10 (10).

'Dugong were not plentiful among the reefs in the neighbourhood of the Murray Islands, owing to the scarcity of the marine grass upon which they feed ; as a consequence of this there is an absence of ceremonies connected with the dugong, such as those of which I obtained traces in Mabuiag (Vol. v. p. 339). The dugong came only during the south-east season. Wooden charms were however employed to entice the dugong as among the Western Islanders (Vol. v. p. 337); these were small, carefully finished models of dugong (deger) carved out of hard wood, which were suspended from the narat, or platform, from which the dugong were harpooned, "to make him come straight." In 1889 I was informed that the Waier le and Areb le wore the deger as ornaments (" belong flash ") suspended from a necklace ; but this is not likely to have been the real reason.

As will be seen from figs. 5- — 8 on pl. XX. the carving of the deger was admirably done, many have an orifice for suspension at the nose (fig. 5) or on the under side of the head, as in fig. 8. They varied in length from about 14 to 18 cm.; 1.5 — 16 cm. being usual lengths. Fig. 8 is 182 mm. in length, the grooves are marked with red paint, except those of the eyes, which are blue ; this well carved specimen is in the Cambridge Museum. Figs. 5 — 7 are in the British Museum.

Haddon, A.C. (ed.) (1908) Reports of the Cambridge Anthropological Expedition to Torres Straits, Vol. VI Sociology, Magic and Religion of the Eastern Islanders. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, p. 217, pl. xx, figs. 5-8.
Event Date 25/3/2021
Author: rachel hand

Context (References)
Moore, David R. (1984) The Torres Strait Collections of A.C. Haddon. London: British Museum Publications Ltd., cf p, 89, no. 525 and noted as 'deger. Accurate model of dugong carved from dark brown wood and polished'.
Cf ref: Z 8153 (Mer), possibly 1998; Z 8156 (Mer) 1898; Z 9674 (Mer), attached to thin string' ; Z 9675, (Mer) 1898. Traces of red ochre. Plate 64. Z 96963 (possibly J Bruce, (Mer), possibly 1905; 1925.681 (Mer) attached to thin string.
Refs: TSR 4: 167, 171, 390, pl. xl, figs. 7-10. TSR 6: 217, pl. xx, figs. 5-8.

Event Date 25/3/2021
Author: rachel hand