IDNO

LS.109403.TC1

Description

On Catalogue Card: "Initiation & totem rites.
Tutu. Restoration of Initiation scene, showing "Taiio Kwod"." [manuscript in ink]

Photograph of a drawing showing a reconstruction of the kwod (men’s place) at Tud where the initiation of boys is undertaken. The kwod consists of four large mats in the centre belong respectively from the foreground backwards to the Shark, Alligator, Dog and Cassowary clans. The fires of the first two were close together at one end - that is of the Cassowary at the other end and that of the Dog on one side - on the opposite side to the latter is the mat of the chief. At one end of each mat is the large alligator-head mask, (one of which is now in the British Museum collection), beside these are some leaf-covering used in the initiatory rites and in the centre are drums. [JD 17/5/2011]

Place

Oceania Australasia; Oceania Melanesia; Australia; Torres Strait; Tutu

Cultural Affliation

Named Person

Photographer

Haddon, Trevor [Artist]

Collector / Expedition

Haddon, Alfred Cort

Date

1898

Collection Name

Teaching Slide CollectionHaddon Unmounted Collection

Source

Haddon, Alfred Cort (Dr)

Format

Lantern Slide Black & White

Primary Documentation

Other Information

Related Archive: Haddon visited Tud for the second time between 28th - 30th October 1888, and sketched in his journal a reconstruction of the kwod (men’s place) of which this is a reworked version. He also noted, "Maino was very pleased to see me & I him & I spent the greater part of the three days I was there with him at his camp. I got a good deal of information from him - especially as he warmed up towards the last. On Tuesday afternoon he took me to the spot in the bush where they initiated the boys & with his help I was able to I believe to imperfectly conjure up the past appearance. I tried to make a sketch but sunset came upon me too soon for it to be satisfactory.
On entering manhood the boys are secluded in the bush for one month and on no account must they see a woman or she them. ... During the day the boys are covered by mat sewn over them like a tent so that when they sit down nothing is visible & when they walk only their legs. The whole day is spent in the sacred spot. After sunset they go to a house set apart for them and before sunrise - when the 'pigeon' whistles they are all marched back. The old man teaches them what they must do and not do in the future, & so far as I could gather from Maino, the code of morality is very fair. One instruction being, "You no like girl first - if you do - girl call you 'woman'!".
The above sketch is intended to represent the sacred area or "Taiio kwod" of say 50 years ago. The four large mats in the centre belong respectively from the foreground backwards to the Shark, Alligator, Dog and Cassowary clans. The fires of the first two were close together at one end - that is of the Cassowary at the other end and that of the Dog on one side - on the opposite side to the latter is the mat of the chief. The fireplaces are still to be seen. At one end of each mat is the large alligator-head mask. Two of the four I have already sent to England, beside these are some leaf-covering used in the initiatory rites. The drums - of which I also have one or two, occupied the centre. The fires were tended by the lads already initiated, the men sat on these or sat & stood around. The boys to be initiated stayed at each end. At the end of the month the boys are washed, gaily decked and anointed with a pungent scent so as to find favour with the girls. A mat is carried before them to the an open spot in the village & on the mat being lowered they are for the first time seen by their female relatives & friends. Even the [sic their] father has not see them during their seclusion. The mothers and aunts rush forwards & hug & cry over the boys & there are great rejoicings and feasting and the boy is now a man." (1888, pp.64-66) [JD 17/5/2011]

MAA Exhibition: Same image included in 1920s Exhibition Case Binders "Cases 5-10. Torres Strait." (OA2/16/4) captioned: "43. The sacred ground, or kwod, of Tutu during an initiation period.
In the centre are the mats of the four main clans on which are drums and masks; the older men sit on the mats of their respective clans. Beyond the mats are the four clan fire-places tended by the young initiates of their respective clans. At each end are tent-like erections made of mats imported from New Guinea, in each squats a novice who is instructed by his maternal uncle.
The lads were secluded in this manner for a month, they were not allowed to talk or do anything, and at night they were taken to a house on the outskirts of the village, to return to the kwod before sunrise. They were not allowed to be seen by any woman or girl, nor even by their fathers. Infringement of the taboos was punished by death. On one occasion seven youths broke away, they were caught and killed in the kwod with the stone that is shown beside the chief's mat.
This scene is simplified for sake of clearness and was drawn by Trevor Haddon from information obtained by A. C. Haddon in 1888.
Vol. IV, pp. 208-212." [JD 14/09/2021]