Abstract: Genre/Subject MatterThis 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.InscriptionsUpper left corner: ‘Capt C at Marshag May 22nd 71’Temporal ContextThe 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.Physical description: Dimensions:107 x 182 mm [landscape]Materials:Pencil on paperCondition: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.
Abstract: Genre/Subject MatterThird of three journals covering Amherst’s service with his regiment and furloughs in India and Europe between 1867 and 1873.Watercolour, pen and ink and pencil drawings interspersed throughout the journal. There are four unidentified watercolour views loose in the album, the latest of which is dated 'April 1876'.There are a number of blank pages, especially at the end of the volume, as the journal finishes two-thirds of the way through on 25 April 1873.1 ‘Part of the village of Lamayuri from the Cashmere Rd. August 3rd 70’2 ‘Peculiar formation of rocks opposite Corbu August 3rd 1870’3 ‘Buddist idol near Skergol. August 4th’4 ‘Capt C. at Marshag. May 22nd 71’; pasted into volume5 ‘Aden – Oct. 22nd /71’; pasted into volume6 ‘Baxters mixture Dec’ 1’871 [
sic]’. ; pasted into volume; caricature7 ‘Bunter alias Fireworks Dec’ 1871’; pasted into volume; caricature8 Group of small drawings: one figure, one head and four profile/character studies, one sketch of a triangular sail9 View, possibly Alexandria10 ‘On the Mahmoudieh Canal Dec’ 28th /72’11 ‘My ride into Alexandria Dec’ 20th /72’12 ‘Our Arab Reis on board the Erin.’13 ‘Where we ran aground above Atfeh December 29th’14 Group of four small drawings: ‘On the bank of the Mahmoudieh Canal Dec’ 29th’; untitled [male figure from behind standing on the cargo of a loaded boat]; ‘Charlie A in pursuit of snipe’ and ‘Rosetta Jan. 1st /73’15 ‘Sunset on the Mahmoudieh Canal. Jan 3rd /73.’16 Group of seven small drawings of Egypt: ‘An ex-captain of the Eton eight on the Kayan Tantaras – Jan 14th’; ‘At the Opera Cairo Jan 7th’; ‘Jos nearly shoots another lynx Jan 18th’ [see below]; untitled [Arab man riding a donkey]; untitled [water fowl]; ‘Our consul – Jan 3rd’; untitled [Arab woman carrying a vessel on her head]; and the following account: ‘Jos’ account – “As I was walking home in the moonlight a large beast crept out of the bushes before me. I cornered him with my gun and was about to pull, when a second evidently terrified figure made its appearance &c &c &c”’17 ‘The false Pyramid from Whasta Jan 11th /73’18 ‘View from our camp at El Edwa, Fayoom’; table denoting game killed while at Ed Edwa19 ‘From under the Bal el Nasr. Cairo Feb 3rd’20 ‘Louley and Co’; pasted into volume; man seated next to donkey, inscribed ‘Tebiz 73’21 Street scene from below taking in mashrabiya in silhouette, possibly Cairo22 ‘In the straits of Messina March 31st’23 ‘In the Straits of Messena [
sic] March 31st’24 ‘SE Cape of Sicily from the Straits March 31st’25 ‘Stromboli March 31st’26 Group of three small drawings, respectively, one sketch of two figures, one portrait, one profile: ‘March 30th’; ‘Madame Veritas’; and ‘He would swing confound him March 29th’ 27 ‘Turin 21st April /73’ [unfinished drawing]28 ‘From my Garden – Algiers April 1876’; loose29 Unidentified landscape scene depicting vineyards, six figures at far right; loose[not numbered] Unidentified maritime scene: two boats at sunset, bell tower and other buildings in silhouette; loose[not numbered] Unidentified landscape at sunset; loose[not numbered] Unidentified watercolour sketch of cruciform gravestone, flowers; held within unsealed envelope, marked with monogram and address: ‘45, Rutland Gate, S.W.’; looseLabelsLetterpress affixed to inner rear endpaper:‘FromBowden & Co.314, Oxford Street,Corner of HarewoodPlace,London, W.’Physical description: DimensionsVolume: 21 x 17 cm
Abstract: Genre/Subject MatterThese two small watercolour drawings depict scenes taken from life at the Settlement of Aden in 1871. Both drawings focus on Arabs’ use of camels as a form of transport.In the left-hand drawing, four veiled women perch alongside one another atop a litter held in place on the back of a light-haired camel. All four women are obscured in blue robes; the woman on the right has an uncovered face, while only the eyes of the other three women are visible.A tall, slender man wearing only a blue loincloth and turban leads the camel by a tether attached to a harness about its muzzle. He holds what appears to be a walking stick or cane in his right hand.The right-hand image shows an Arab man standing balanced on the neck of a dark-haired camel. He is wearing a turban and loincloth, which is held together by a belt that also holds a
janbiyain place. Both the material of the turban and loincloth are blue with red detailing and have been rendered very delicately in order to illustrate this. The man wears an object at his side, held there by a strap that crosses his torso. He whirls a whip above his head. Behind him, balanced on the camel’s saddle is a long-barrelled rifle; it has been decorated in black and white concentric stripes.Both drawings are stylistically in keeping with other sketches of ‘natives’ in this volume and 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.InscriptionsLower left corner: ‘Aden – Oct 22nd /71’Temporal ContextThe drawing was made during the period Amherst was based at Aden, between 30 November 1870 and 1871/1872. It is likely to have been sketched from life either at or near 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)) and where Amherst was attending a musketry course between 18–28 October 1871. Amherst moved about frequently between Crater, Isthmus, Ras Marshag and elsewhere during his time at Aden.Physical description: Dimensions:108 x 180 mm [landscape]Materials:Pencil on paperCondition:The paper is slightly foxed, with light surface residue but otherwise in good condition with adhesive still sturdy.Foliation:The images have been assigned a sequential number, 5, which is written in pencil in the lower right corner of the page onto which the image is pasted.