Photo 1069/1

Dark green cloth-bound album measuring 252 x 295 mm, spine weak and repaired with linen tape, stamped 'Photographs' in gilt on front cover. Flyleaf inscribed 'To my wife, Dorothy. September 25th 1911.' The album, whose first leaf is captioned 'Taking elephants (37) from Assam to Burmah - Winter 1908-1909', contains 143 good quality amateur snapshots of various sizes and formats recording the journey. All the prints are captioned in ink in a neat hand. Subjects include camp scenes, elephant husbandry, portraits of Manipuris, Nagas and other ethnic groups, and general topographical views. Locations include Imphal, Tinsuria, Dimapur, the Naga Hills, Tamu and Sittaung. The photographs have been inserted in a somewhat random order and do not appear to follow the chronological sequence of the trek. E. H. Soole was an employee of the Jokai Tea Company in Assam, but the album does not appear to have been compiled by him, since he is identified as 'E. H. S.' in two prints, while a photograph of a different man, captioned 'Yours Truly' is presumably the original compiler.