An echo of an ancient religion.

Among the many students of Aberdeen University who travelled the world as colonial servants was Sir William MacGregor. Born the son of a farm labourer, MacGregor's university education changed his life, taking him to Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Canada, Nigeria and Australia. He was an enthusiastic collector of anthropological material and when he died he donated his collection to the university where it joined many other collections which he hoped would inspire students by showing that there was more to the world than "Aberdeen and twal mile roon".

MacGregor collected this wooden suspension hook in the form of a masturbating man whilst he was in Fiji between 1875-1888. Such suspension hooks probbaly served a ritual purpose within the ancient Fijian temples.

Some of the University's best Fijian artefacts are currently on display in a new exhibition at the the King's Museum in Old Aberdeen.