WD2993

Ferry crossing river, Java. c.1815.

Probably by Captain G.P. Baker.

Pencil; 23 by 31.8 cm.

Watermark: ‘Fleur-de-lis’ and crown.

Note: A pencil drawing depicting a ferry operated by a rattan rope secured to the banks of an unidentified river in central or southern Java. The method of crossing rivers by ferry was common in the whole of the island but the method employed in the drawing is a less common variant since the ferry appears to be secured by only one rattan line fixed to the end of the boat, the propulsion, or perhaps only the steering, being effected by an oar or oars at the other end. This would appear to indicate that the river was fast flowing, the crossing being made by securing the boat on the down-stream side, the rope merely acting as a support. The more usual method of crossing rivers was by securing the boat or boats by rattan ropes on both sides, as illustrated in the coloured lithograph (no. 6) accompanying E. Nijland's ‘Handleiding voor de Kennis van het Volksleven der Bewoners van Nederlandsch Oost-Indië’ (Leiden, 1897). This lithograph appears to be based on an actual photograph of a ferry on the Tjitarum in west Java in 1875 which was subsequently reproduced in F. De Haan's ‘Priangan’ (Batavia, 1910-12), II, facing p. 506. The present drawing gives no information about locality, but it is probably a hurried sketch made by Captain G.P. Baker during his survey of southern and central Java in 1815.