IDNO

P.925.ACH1

Description

On Catalogue Card: “Top spinning, Mer.”

Scene showing a group of men and boys standing and sitting cross-legged. They are grouped around a small sandy space where six stone tops can be seen spinning. Some are looking at the tops, others towards the camera. (Anti-clockwise from right) at centre right, Mabo, centre left, Poi. Seated: Dawita Jnr, Dawita Snr, Johnny, Josiah, Gisu, Tanu, Billy Gasu, Charlie Deau, Bero, Mabo. Standing: (two from right anti-clockwise) George Finau, Beni, -, -, -, Jimmy Rice Jnr, Sigigi, Jacob, James. [Jude Philp 21/5/1999]

Place

Oceania Australasia; Australia; Torres Strait; Mer

Cultural Affliation

Torres Strait Islander

Named Person

Dawita Jnr; Dawita Snr; Johnny; Gisu; Tanu; Billy Gasu; Deau Charlie; Bero; Mabo; Poi; Josiah; George Finau; Beni; Jimmy Rice Jnr; Sigigi; Jacob; James

Photographer

Wilkin, Anthony

Collector / Expedition

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

Date

?23 July 1898; ?24 - 27 July 1898

Collection Name

Mounted Haddon CollectionTorres Strait Island Expedition

Source

Haddon, Alfred Cort (Dr)

Format

Print Black & White Mounted

Primary Documentation

Other Information

CUMAA Exhibition: ‘Torres Strait Islanders: An Exhibition Marking the Centenary of the 1898 Cambridge Anthropological Exhibition’ at UCMAA, July 1998 to December 2000, with following label "Photograph. Games such as javelin throwing (above) and top-spinning (below) were also an opportunity for singing and talking together in small intimate groups. Mabuiag 1888, Mer 1898. 91:87; P.925.ACH1." F. Veys, 28/7/2006'

MAA Exhibition: Same image included in 1920s Exhibition Case Binders "Cases 5-10. Torres Strait." (OA2/16/4) captioned: “23. Top-spinning match. Mer.
Tops in Case 8.
Vol. IV, pp. 315, 384.
Photo. taken 1898 by A. Wilkin." [JD 08/09/2021]

Named Person: Identification comes from Haddon’s papers “Green Box 146” Drawer 1, env. 1. Additional information: Jacob, South-seas; Johnny son of Sinono. [Jude Philp 21/5/1999]

Bibliographical Reference: This kolap (top spinning) competition is referred to in Headhunters, Myers and Haddon’s journals (1898:191) and Reports IV: 314-7, and was related to the funeral of Captain Cook of Darnley’s son (see also P.918.ACH1, P.919.ACH1 etc.). This photograph was taken on the 25th or 26th July and is reproduced in IV: XXVIII, fig. 1 with the caption “Top spinning, Mer (pp.30, 315, 316)”. [Jude Philp 21/5/1999]

Related Archive: Myers writes in his journal for the 25th July "Three boat loads of Darnley men arrived today & occupy themselves on the following day in preparing a big Kaikai to celebrate the death of the son of Captain Cook a Darnley man.
27. The big kaikai is held today at Babud: it is smaller than but otherwise very similar to that usually given at Zomared." (1898, p.104) [JD 08/10/2018]

Bibliographical Reference: Haddon writes in Reports Vol. 4, p.316 "On one occasion there were thirty tops spinning at the same time (pl. XXVIII. fig. 1). The men sang songs and there was great cheering on of slackening tops, and shouting and jeering when one stopped. At the critical time when one was “dying” great care was taken to shelter it from the wind so as to prolong its “life” a few seconds longer. At one match we timed the four best tops, and found that they spun for 27 1/2, 26 3/4, 25 1/4 and 24 minutes respectively. We have seen men of all ages (but no women or girls) engaged in these matches, the grizzled taking as much interest in the performance of their tops as the young men. In the larger competitions one section or side of the island is pitted against another." [JD 08/10/2018]

Related Archive: Haddon writes in his 1998 Journal for Saturday July 23: “When we landed on Mer in the evening we found a party of men spinning tops. I counted 30 tops spinning at one time. The men sing songs and there was great cheering on of slacking tops and shouting and jeering when one stopped. This top spinning is a great institution, here one section of the island being pitted against the other. On a subsequent occasion I got Ray to time some of the tops – in one contest the winner spun for 26 1⁄2 minutes, in another the three best tops spun for 24 1/2, 25 1/2, 25 1/2 minutes respectively" (p.191) [JD 12/03/2020]

Bibliographical Reference: Noted in 'Haddon, Alfred C. (Alfred Cort), 1901. Head-hunters; black, white, and brown (London Methuen), p.40, "The proceedings opened with a kolap, or top-spinning match. Top-spinning was a great institution in Murray Island during the time of our stay there. On one occasion there were thirty tops spinning at the same time. The men sang songs, and there was great cheering-on of slackening tops, and shouting and jeering when one stopped. At the critical time, as a top
was dying, great care was taken to shelter it from the wind so as to prolong its " life " a few seconds longer. At one match we timed the four best tops, and found they span for 27 1/2, 26 3/4 25 1/4, and 24 minutes respectively." [JD 13/03/2020]

Publication: Image published in 'Recording Kastom: Alfred Haddon’s Journals from his Expeditions to the Torres Strait and New Guinea, 1888–89, 1898–99', Edited by Anita Herle and Jude Philp (Sydney University Press), Fig 7.1, and captioned: "Men spinning kolap (tops). Foreground sitting: (l-r) Dawita Jnr, Poi, Mabo. Sitting: (clockwise from left) Dawita Snr, Johnny, Josiah, Gisu, Tanu, Billy Gasu, Charlie Deau, Bero. Standing: (clockwise from left), unknown, unknown, George Finau, Beni, unknown, unknown, unknown, Jimmy Rice Jnr, Sigigi, Jacob, James. Mer, 23 July 1898. MAA N.23184." [JD 13/03/2020]