'An Account of the British Settlement of Aden in Arabia', compiled by Captain F.M. Hunter

Content

Imprint:

London: Trübner & Co., 1877

Genre/Subject Matter:

This descriptive account of Aden, 'prepared at the request of Dr. W. W. Hunter, Director-General of Statistics to the Government of India' (Preface, p. v), contains 15 albumen Method of printing photographs using an emulsion of salt and egg white (albumen). print illustrations of the settlement, typical inhabitants and two views relating to the neighbouring district of Lahej.

Elements:

1 Aden Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. Bungalow (Frontispiece)

2 View in the Crater

3 The Tanks

4 Arab Coal Coolie A term used to describe labourers from a number of Asian countries, now considered derogatory.

5 Half-Caste Arab Woman

6 Aden Arab

7 Aden Jew

8 Male Somali

9 Somali Woman

10 Aden Municipal Rubbish-Cart

11 Steamer Point, with Little Aden in the distance

12 Somali Female, Stick-Gatherer

13 Somali Girl

14 Group of the Reigning Family of the Lahej District

15 Al-Hautah: Capital of the Lahej District, showing the Sultan’s Palace

Inscriptions:

Title page, in ink:

‘Recd. December 18. 1878’

Title page, embossed oval-shaped stamp (with embellished crown detail):

‘Secretary of State for India Library’

Extent and format

1 cloth-bound, published volume (232 pages), illustrated with 15 albumen Method of printing photographs using an emulsion of salt and egg white (albumen). prints and 1 insert map

It is grouped into

'Aden Residency Bungalow'. Photographer: Unknown

1 image

Ref: T.11308/1

'View in the Crater'. Photographer: Unknown

1 image

Ref: T.11308/2

'The Tanks'. Photographer: Unknown

1 image

Ref: T.11308/3

'Arab Coal Coolie'. Photographer: Unknown

1 image

Ref: T.11308/4

'Half-Caste Arab Woman'. Photographer: Unknown

1 image

Ref: T.11308/5

'Aden Arab'. Photographer: Unknown

1 image

Ref: T.11308/6

'Aden Jew'. Photographer: Unknown

1 image

Ref: T.11308/7

'Male Somali'. Photographer: Unknown

1 image

Ref: T.11308/8

'Somali Woman'. Photographer: Unknown

1 image

Ref: T.11308/9

'Aden Municipal Rubbish-Cart'. Photographer: Unknown

1 image

Ref: T.11308/10

'Steamer Point, with Little Aden in the distance'. Photographer: Unknown

1 image

Ref: T.11308/11

'Somali Female Stick-Gatherer'. Photographer: Unknown

1 image

Ref: T.11308/12

'Somali Girl'. Photographer: Unknown

1 image

Ref: T.11308/13

'Group of the Reigning Family of the Lahej District'. Photographer: Unknown

1 image

Ref: T.11308/14

'Al-Hautah: Capital of the Lahej District, showing the Sultan's Palace'. Photographer: Unknown

1 image

Ref: T.11308/15

Arrangement

The fifteen albumen Method of printing photographs using an emulsion of salt and egg white (albumen). prints are arranged throughout the text to face pages 3 (frontispiece), 7, 13, 35, 35, 44, 44, 51, 51, 71, 99, 131, 131, 156 and 166 respectively. Some are grouped in pairs, while the larger views landscape and portrait views, mainly topographical, are folded. A ‘List of Photographs’ appears on page xiii.

The map faces pages 1.

Physical characteristics

Dimensions:

Octavo: 220 x 145 x 30mm

Format:

1 bound, printed octavo volume including 15 inserted silver printing-out paper prints as book illustrations and 1 map

Materials:

Silver printing-out paper, albumen Method of printing photographs using an emulsion of salt and egg white (albumen). prints, cloth binding, marbled edging

Condition:

Marbled edges of pages are heavily faded; book illustrations show signs of heavy toning and are warped in places; map is brittle, mutilated in places and has been folded inadequately.

Foliation:

The book illustrations, with the exception of the map, have been numbered one to fifteen via indication in pencil alongside the ‘List of Photographs’, p. xiii, as well as in pencil on the paper-supports alongside each image.

Process:

Book illustrations: Albumen Method of printing photographs using an emulsion of salt and egg white (albumen). print; Map: mechanically printed

Binding:

Cloth-binding is scuffed and bent at all corners, otherwise structurally intact.

Written in

English in Latin script

Type

Photograph

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

T.11308

History of this record

Date(s)

1877 (CE, Gregorian)

Context of creation

The photographs are uncredited, although they may be the work of one or more of the photographers mentioned in Hunter's text as follows: ‘There are two depôts, both located at Steamer Point, where portraits are taken by photography; they are, however, but indifferently patronised. Views of the different places of interest in the Settlement and neighbourhood can be obtained, and as they have been taken by an amateur who thoroughly understood the art, they are worth the small sum charged for each copy. An excellent panoramic view of the camp was taken by this artist, and can be purchased for Rs.6 per copy.' (p. 86)

Immediate source of acquisition

Received in 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. 18 December 1878.

Related material

Copies

For other copies, see British Library shelfmarks T.12574 and X7/8143

Subjects

Ethnographic heritage

Places

Aden

People & organisations

Frederick Mercer Hunter

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'An Account of the British Settlement of Aden in Arabia', compiled by Captain F.M. Hunter, British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, T.11308, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100000007136.0x000001> [accessed 17 February 2025]

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