A Female Eel

Collected by Richard Harbison and Russell Reichelt from the people of the Sepik region of Papua New Guinea. This string figure most likely represents the Highlands Long-finned Eel (Anguilla interioris). Freshwater eels inhabit rivers but return to the ocean to spawn.

<Full-length video in Windows Media Player>

Step-by-Step Video Clips

Written Instructions

1 2 3 4 5 all

Step 4 - 5, from the "fingertip" side, removes the 3 loop (in other words, 5 enters the 3 loop from the opposite side compared to 3, then 3 releases its loop onto 5).

Release 1 loop and extend with 2345 pointing away and 1 pointing up.

You have "A Female Eel". Although not stated by the informant, the central double horizontal string probably represents the eel.