WD3006

A Papuan. c.1815.

Water-colour; 29.8 by 21.8 cm.

Inscribed in ink on printed wrapper enclosing both drawings: ‘Portraits & Costumes - Java - not published.’

Note: The printed paper wrapper is from Richard Ayton and William Daniell's ‘A Voyage Round Great Britain’ (London, 1814-25), on which the above ink inscription appears. This inscription indicates clearly enough that the water-colours were prepared for ‘The History of Java,’ presumably to illustrate Papuans, to whom Raffles made occasional reference in that work. Instead, what was finally included in the book was the delightful aquatint of the Papuan boy whom Raffles brought with him to England, the subject being plagiarized in the coloured engraving of 'A Papua or Negro' facing page 17 of the first volume of John Crawfurd's ‘History of the Indian Archipelago’ (Edinburgh, 1820). The Papuan boy, who was called Papua or (more to his satisfaction) Dick, is described by Raffles in ‘The History of Java’ as follows: 'The lad ... came into my service at ‘Bali’ under very peculiar circumstances, and has accompanied me to England. Since his arrival he has excited some curiosity, as being the first individual of the wooly haired race of Eastern Asia who has been brought to this country.' His physical characteristics were reported on by the leading surgeon of the day, Sir Everard Home (1756-1832), and William Marsden recorded the interesting fact that he was able to converse only in Malay, having 'scarcely any recollection of his native tongue'.