IDNO

N.22850.ACH2

Description

View of the eastern side of Waier across a stretch of water to a volcanic cliff with a sharp cleft at the centre, called the ‘throne of Waiet’. [Jude Philp 10/2/2000, updated JD 15/7/2011]

Place

Oceania Australasia; Australia; Torres Strait; Waier; Dauar

Cultural Affliation

Torres Strait Islander

Named Person

Photographer

Haddon, Alfred Cort

Collector / Expedition

Haddon, Alfred Cort [Torres Strait, 1888 - 1889]

Date

November 1888 - 5 April 1889

Collection Name

Torres Strait Island ExpeditionHaddon Collection

Source

Haddon, Alfred Cort (Dr)

Format

Glass Negative Halfplate

Primary Documentation

Other Information

This negative was kept in an envelope marked C44/37/ by the cataloguer. The envelope was kept in box marked C44/ by the cataloguer. The envelope is now re-housed in Neg. Env. Box 8 which is stored in Storage Box B in the Photo Archive room.

Related Archive: Referenced in notebook titled ‘List of Torres-Straits Photographs. 1888 - 1889. A.C. Haddon’, “33. N. side of Waier from Dauar. Mer.” [JD 9/5/2011]

Place: The image has been taken to show the ‘throne’ of Waiet, a cult figure who is said to have come from the Western islands. He is associated with warfare and melevolent magic. The ‘throne’ refers to a section of the rock at the top of the hill. [Jude Philp 1/3/1999]

Publication: Image published in 'Haddon, Afred Cort, W. J. Sollas and G. A. J. Cole, July 27 1892. 'On the Geology of Torres Straits', pl. XXIV and captioned: "Fig. 1. View in Mer, taken from near the top of Gelam, and looking about North-east.
To the left is Gur, the eastern side of the central cone. In the centre is the ridge (Sere) of Mergar, ending to the left in the peak of Pitkir. Between this and Gur can be seen the lave plateau on the other side of Erpat. The lowest slopes of the hill, Debemad occupy the extreme of the picture. Between Gur and Mergar is the valley of Menepat. In the foreground is part of what we call the great crescentic valley, with scattered coco-nut palms.
A millimetre on the picture above Gur will be seen a very faint line; this is the edge of the roof opposite the village of Las, as shown at low tide. It extends to a spot about 21.5 mm from the right-hand side of the picture, and about 47 mm. from the top. This spot is the apex of the bend, and below it can be seen the gap due to the influence of the stream which occasionally flows down Erpat." [JD 15/02/2019]