Mss Eur F95/2

‘Some remarks on the Soil and Cultivation on the Western Side of the River Hoogly.’

8 drawings by Indian draftsmen, probably from Calcutta, c.1790, collected by Robert Kyd (1746-93). Despatched to the Court of Directors, 13 December 1792, by Robert Kyd. At his death in May 1793 he bequeathed his property, including the land which would become the Calcutta Botanic Gardens, to his nephew, Alexander Kyd.

1. Plan of land which later formed the Botanic Garden at Sibpur, near Calcutta. Taken from p.14 and illustrating p.67 of Mss Eur F95/1. Inscribed on front in ink: ‘Imperfect Sketch of the Tract of land referred to.’ Pen-and-ink and water-colour; 16.75 by 29 ins.

2. Architectural detail of temple of Mahadeo at Sibpur showing figures of sepoys in niches. Taken from p.199 of Mss Eur F95/1. Water-colour; 17 by 10.75 ins.

3. S.E. view of temple of Mahadeo at Sibpur, with Siva Lingam in foreground.

Inscribed on front in ink: ‘View front the S.E. of the Temple of Mahadeb. The Divinity propitiated under the Emblem (a) here represented, term'd by the Bengalese ling; said to be the same obscene symbol represented in the Egyptian Mythology by the Phallus or Lingam. This structure is throughout composed of brick and mortar, plaistered.’

Taken from p.200 of Mss Eur F95/1. The location of the Mahadeo Temple is indicated on drawing 1 (formerly p.14 of Mss Eur F95/1). Pen-and-ink and water-colour; 18 by 18.25 ins.

4. Cultivator ploughing with two bullocks. Details of ploughshare, mattock and sickle (?).

Inscribed on front in ink: ‘Plough, and other Utensils of Husbandry in use.’ Taken from p.201 of Mss Eur F95/1. Water-colour; 11 by 18.5 ins.

5. River-craft propelled by two boatmen, one smoking a ‘nargila.’ Taken from p.204 of Mss Eur F95/1. Water-colour; 14.75 by 21 ins.

6. Bullock working oil press; also details of mechanism. Taken from p.205 of Mss Eur F95/1. Inscribed on front in ink: ‘Bengal Oil Mill’; also notes on mechanism.

Description of manufactures given on pp.75-85 of Mss Eur F95/1. Pen-and-ink and water-colour; 14.75 by 20.75 ins.

7. Temple at Bishanpur (Bengal) overgrown with jungle. Taken from p.208a of Mss Eur F95/1. Inscribed on front in ink: ‘The Raass Munder at Bishenpore dedicated to Mudun Mohun.’ Pen-and-ink and water-colour; 14.75 by 20.5 ins.

8. Section of the above temple. Taken from p.208b of Mss Eur F95/1. Illustrates p.206 of Mss Eur F95/1; A note reads, 'Communicated by Lieutenant Anbury of the Corps of Engineers in February 1790 containing an account of the Pyramidical Pagoda at Bishenpore'. Inscribed on front in ink with notes. Pen-and-ink and water-colour; 7.25 by 9 ins.