Mss Eur F140/234/4

Genre/Subject Matter

This pencil sketch on paper depicts a man reclining against a pillow on a chaise-longue while reading. It is drawn in the style of a caricature, which is in keeping with other figural sketches in this volume and, more broadly, in the related files Mss Eur F140/232 and Mss Eur F140/233, which, together with this volume, complete the trio of journals created by Jeffrey C. Amherst.

The man depicted is likely Captain Chamberlain, who Amherst cites as being ‘in command’ of B & D Companies upon his arrival at Aden on 30 November 1870. He is wearing at least one brace and holding the papers he is reading above his torso.

The latter part of the inscription – ‘Marshag’ – refers to Ras Marshag, a promontory to the south of the Crater, upon which a lighthouse (built in 1861 to facilitate the navigation of increasing numbers of steamers passing through) was situated as well as the quarters for a detachment of infantry.

Inscriptions

Upper left corner: ‘Capt C at Marshag May 22nd 71’

Temporal Context

The drawing was made during the period Amherst was based at Aden, between 30 November 1870 and 1871/1872; on 5 February 1871, Amherst notes that he was in command of D Company and that he was based at the Isthmus Position, where two companies of British and two companies of Native Infantry were regularly based according to an 1877 publication (F. M. Hunter, An Account of the British Settlement at Aden, (London: Trübner & Co., 1877)). It seems Amherst moved about frequently between Crater, Isthmus, Ras Marshag and elsewhere during his time at Aden.