Mss Eur F21/2

A map and 14 drawings of views chiefly in Penang, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, from an ‘Account of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands,’ compiled by Captain Alexander Kyd (1754-1826), c.1792. He was the nephew of Robert Kyd (1746-93), founder of the Calcutta Botanical Gardens at Sibpur. Alexander inherited the Botanical Gardens from his uncle, and transferred them to the East India Company in 1794. Served in Oudh and Bombay. Surveyed harbours in Arakan 1784; surveyed Penang 1787; Appointed Surveyor Genereal of Bengal in 1788; Surveyed harbours in Andaman and Nicobar Islands 1789-90; Surveyed forts in Mysore in 1791-92; Superintendent of the Andamans 1792-96; visited Penang again during 1794; Superintendent at Allahabad to remodel fortifications 1798-1804. After furlough served on Military Board 1807-10. Kyd Street, Calcutta, Kydganj, Allahabad, and Cape Kyd, North Andaman were named after him.

Drawings 1 and 3 are by F.B. Solvyns (1760-1824), 1792. The rest are copies of sketches by Kyd’s colleagues, R.H. Colebrooke, A. Blair and J.Wales.

Lieutenant R.H. Colebrooke went to the Andamans as Kyd’s assistant in May 1787 and December 1789. Lt. A. Blair went to the Andamans in December 1788. He conducted a survey until 1793, when Kyd took over his post. Lt. John Wales (c.1785-1810)was Blair’s senior assistant during the early stages of the survey (1787).

Inscribed with titles in ink.

Pen-and-ink and water-colour; size of volume 17.25 by 10.5 ins.

Despatched by Robert Kyd to Court of Directors 13 December 1792.

Note: Many of the drawings are described in Mss Eur F21/1, sections of which were published in articles authored by Colebrooke in Asiatick Researches, Volume 4, 1799. Two of the pictures (9 and 12) are reproduced in this volume.

During the period when the drawings were being collected, the British were assessing where to build an East India Company naval yard between the Coromandel Coast and China.

1 Waterfall in Penang. Known today as the ‘Penang Waterfall’, it is inside the grounds of the Penang Botanical Gardens. Inscribed on front in ink: ‘View in Penang. From a sketch by Mr James MacDonald 1792. View of the Water Fall on the Island of Penang. Referred to in Govr. Light's letter of the 30th July 1792. By Mr Solvyns.’ The letter mentioned in this inscription was authored by the first Superintendent of Penang, Captain Francis Light (1740-94). Another view of the same waterfall, taken in 1783 and signed by Thomas Warham, is at WD3896. Water-colour; 23.5 by 14 ins.

2 View taken from a ship of the north end of Great Andaman Island. Inscribed on front in ink, ‘Views of the Land near the northern extremity of the Great Andaman Island’. Pen-and-ink and wash; 38.5 by 11.5 ins.

3 Inhabitants of the Andaman Islands. 1792 . These two young Andamanese men were taken to Calcutta by Lieutenant Archibald Blair. Francois Balthazard Solvyns drew them in Calcutta. WD4314 is a preliminary sketch of this drawing. Inscribed on front in ink: ‘Natives of the Andaman Islands taken from life 1792. 1. Otta Caggy Yuka. 2. Tytahee. B. Sol. del.’ The dance being performed in the background is probably based on a description by Kyd in Mss Eur F21/1, folio 7. Water-colour; 16.5 by 11 ins.

4 Four views of Narkondam Island, the most remote of the Andaman Islands, to the east of North Andaman. 1787. Inscribed on front in ink: ‘Views of the Island of Norkondam. 12 May 1787. From Views by Lieut Colebrooke.’ Pen-and-ink; 13.75 by 7.75 ins.

5 View of Narkondam Island, Andamans. 1787. Inscribed on front in ink: ‘View of the Island of Norkondam in the Bay of Bengal. Copied from a view by Lieut Colebrook 12 May 1787.’ Pen-and-ink and wash; 10.5 by 16.5 ins.

6 Narkondam Island, Andamans. 1787. Inscribed on front in ink: ‘View in the Island of Narkondam. From a View by Lieut Colebrook 12 May 1787.’ Pen-and-ink and water-colour; 11.75 by 18.25 ins.

7 View of the S. part of Narkondam Island, Andamans. 1787. Inscribed on front in ink: ‘View of the South End of the Island of Norkondam. From a view by Lieut Colebrooke 12 May 1787.’ Pen-and-ink and wash; 10.5 by 16.5 ins.

8 Volcano on Barren Island, Middle Andamans. Colebrooke published an article titled ‘On Barren Island and its Volcano’ in Asiatick Researches, Vol.4, 1799. Inscribed on front in ink: ‘Barren Island.’ Pen-and-ink and wash; 10.75 by 8 ins.

9 Volcano on Barren Island, Middle Andamans. 1789. Inscribed on front in ink: ‘A View of the Volcano on Barren Island bearing East about one mile off, taken by Lt Wales. 23rd March, 1789. Copy.’ Aside from the addition of a ship in the foreground, this picture is reproduced at the beginning of Colebrooke’s article, ‘On Barren Island and its Volcano’ Asiatick Researches, Vol.4, 1799. Pen-and-ink and water-colour; 10 by 18 ins.

10 Island of Camorta (opposite Nancowry Island), Nicobar Islands. 1790. Inscribed on front in ink: ‘Interior View of one of the Islands forming the Harbour of Noncowry. Feb 1790. Taken from the Harbour. View of part of the Island of Comarty. Copied from a view by Lt Colebrooke.’ Pen-and-ink and wash; 16.5 by 20.5 ins.

11 Island of Soury, Nicobar Islands. Inscribed on front in ink: ‘View of Part of the Island of Soury in the interior of Noncowry Harbour.’ Pen-and-ink and wash; 15 by 20.5 ins.

12 Village huts on Nancowry Island, Nicobar Islands. Inscribed on front in ink: ‘Habitations of the Natives on the Island of Noncowry.’ Reproduced at the beginning of R.H. Colebrooke’s article, ‘On the Islands Nancowry and Comarty.’ In Asiatick Researches, Vol.4, 1799. Pen-and-ink and water-colour; 19.5 by 24.5 ins.

13 Danish settlement on Nancowry Island, Nicobar Islands. Probably a copy of a drawing by Colebrooke. Inscribed on front in ink: ‘View of the Hut on the Island of Noncowry, the Habitation of the Danish Residents.’ This Danish settlement is described in Colebrooke’s article, ‘On the Islands Nancowry and Comarty’ (Asiatick Researches, Vol.4, 1799) as ‘a small settlement… on the northernmost point of Nancoury, within the harbour… They have here two houses, one of which, built entirely of wood, is their habitation; the other, formerly inhabited by their missionaries, serves now for a storehouse.’ Pen-and-ink and water-colour; 15.5 by 23 ins.

14 Port Cornwallis, Andaman Islands. (see WD1476, p.143). Inscribed on front in ink: ‘View in the old Port on the Andaman Island. Copied from a view by Lieut Colebrooke’. Pen-and-ink and water-colour; 18 by 23.75 ins.

15 Map of the Great Andaman Island by Lieutenant Archibald Blair. 1790. Inscribed on front in ink: ‘General Chart of the Great Andaman’ .... ‘Surveyed in the year 1789 and 1790 by Archibald Blair, Lieut.’ Notes indicate water depth and location of coral reefs. Pen-and-ink and water-colour; 87 by 29.5 ins.