Cargo I

Cargo was the first man to live on Yam Island (an island in the Torres Straits, north of the Australian mainland).  A sacred warup (ceremonial drum) was named in his honour.  The drum is very old and has been handed down through the generations.  In ancient times the drum used human skin, now it has karum (goanna – water lizard) skin on it.  The drum was used in the sacred ceremony of Sigai and his wife Maiu.  Sigai was Augud (God of Yam Island).  His totem is Kurrs (hammerhead shark).  Cargo lies buried on Yam island.  My uncle is the guardian of Cargo’s drum and only he can touch it.  I have used the hammerhead shark and crocodile designs in this image, as they are my mother and father’s totems (sacred symbols).