WD4301

Standing figure in pink tunic and red sash, wearing large tubulur ear-rings. By William Daniell. 1795-1800.

Inscribed: ‘Rajah of Chedubah, WD’.

Water-colour; 30.3 by 20 cm.

Purchased 1993.

Note: Chedubah is an island off the coast of Burma, also called Foul Island from its evil-smelling volcano. The inscription is misleading however, see ‘Picturesque voyage,’ p.45, ‘Fowl Island ... is often visited by fleets of canoes from Ava, immense shoals of fish being discovered in the vicinity of its coast ... These industrious fishermen are observed to bear a close resemblance to the Malays; and like them, are active, expert, and enterprising. They wear a singular ornament, in shape not unlike a speaking trumpet, it is made either of bamboo wood, turtle shells, or silver, which is inserted in the ear, but for what purpose it is difficult to conceive’. William Daniell could not have made such a drawing when they visited Chedubah in 1785, and it must have been worked up later from sketches. See WD1985, a pen-and-ink drawing inscribed ‘Foul Island’, and WD1956, a man with similar bamboo plugs to this subject, with sketches of such plugs in other materials.