‘Capt C. at Marshag. May 22nd 71’

Mss Eur F140/234/4

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The record is made up of 1 drawing; pencil on paper, pasted into volume. It was created in 22 May 1871. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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Content

Genre/Subject Matter

This pencil sketch on paper depicts a man reclining against a pillow on a chaise-longue while reading. It is drawn in the style of a caricature, which is in keeping with other figural sketches in this volume and, more broadly, in the related files Mss Eur F140/232 and Mss Eur F140/233, which, together with this volume, complete the trio of journals created by Jeffrey C. Amherst.

The man depicted is likely Captain Chamberlain, who Amherst cites as being ‘in command’ of B & D Companies upon his arrival at Aden on 30 November 1870. He is wearing at least one brace and holding the papers he is reading above his torso.

The latter part of the inscription – ‘Marshag’ – refers to Ras Marshag, a promontory to the south of the Crater, upon which a lighthouse (built in 1861 to facilitate the navigation of increasing numbers of steamers passing through) was situated as well as the quarters for a detachment of infantry.

Inscriptions

Upper left corner: ‘Capt C at Marshag May 22nd 71’

Temporal Context

The drawing was made during the period Amherst was based at Aden, between 30 November 1870 and 1871/1872; on 5 February 1871, Amherst notes that he was in command of D Company and that he was based at the Isthmus Position, where two companies of British and two companies of Native Infantry were regularly based according to an 1877 publication (F. M. Hunter, An Account of the British Settlement at Aden, (London: Trübner & Co., 1877)). It seems Amherst moved about frequently between Crater, Isthmus, Ras Marshag and elsewhere during his time at Aden.

Extent and format
1 drawing; pencil on paper, pasted into volume
Physical characteristics

Dimensions:

107 x 182 mm [landscape]

Materials:

Pencil on paper

Condition:

The paper is slightly foxed, but otherwise in good condition with adhesive still sturdy.

Foliation:

The image has been assigned a sequential number, 4, which is written in pencil in the lower right corner of the page onto which the image is pasted.

Written in
English in Latin script
Type
Drawing

Archive information for this record

Access & Reference

Original held at
British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity.
Access conditions

Unrestricted

Archive reference
Mss Eur F140/234/4

History of this record

Date(s)
22 May 1871 (CE, Gregorian)

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‘Capt C. at Marshag. May 22nd 71’, British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F140/234/4, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023518036.0x000002> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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