IDNO

P.745.ACH1

Description

On Catalogue Card: “Wiwai at Gomu, Mabuiag” [typed text, circa 1935]

Amongst long grass and shrubs are a group of rocks. Three (adil) stand sharply upright, one (wiwai) is round. [Jude Philp 24/2/1998]

Detail of wiwari, a rounded boulder of red granite about two-and-a-half feet in height and five feet in circumference, situated under a komak tree at Gumu. It formerly belonged to Matu. It but now belongs to Aki and Anu. By the side of wiwaru are three upright stones in alignment, each of which is simply called ad or collectively they are termed adil... The ceremony connected with this stone takes place in the surlal season and its object was to ensure success in catching turtle” [Based on Haddon 1904, p.334, JD 22/5/2011]

Place

Oceania Australasia; Australia; Torres Strait; Mabuiag; Gomu [Mabuyag]

Cultural Affliation

Torres Strait Islander

Named Person

Photographer

Wilkin, Anthony

Collector / Expedition

Haddon, Alfred Cort [Cambridge University Anthropological Expedition to the Torres Straits, 1898 - 1899]

Date

1898

Collection Name

Mounted Haddon CollectionTorres Strait Island Expedition

Source

Haddon, Alfred Cort (Dr)

Format

Quarterplate

Primary Documentation

Other Information

Publication: This photograph appears in the Reports V, Plate XXI.2 with the caption “Wiwai at Gumu”. [Jude Philp 24/2/1998]

Bibliographical Reference: Haddon writes “At Gumu under a komak tree there is a rounded boulder of red granite called wiwai about two-and-a-half feet in height and five feet in circumference. It now belongs to Aki and Anu [7], but formerly to Matu. When it was first found a big feast and dance were made for this stone. By the side of the stone are three upright stones in alignment, each of which is simply called ad or collectively they are termed adil... The ceremony connected with this stone takes place in the surlal season and its object was to ensure success in catching turtle” (1904: 334). [Jude Philp 24/2/1998]

MAA Exhibition: Same image included in 1920s Exhibition Case Binders "Cases 5-10. Torres Strait." (OA2/16/4) with the following information: "49. Wiwai at Gumu on Mabuiag.
Beside the boulder of red granite are three upright stones. A ceremony took place here to ensure success in catching turtle. The standing stones were adi, which means something ancient with the implications of sanctity.
Vol. V, p. 334-336.
Photo. taken in 1898 by A. Wilkin." [JD 15/09/2021]