WD3528-3528a

Genre/Subject Matter:

These six topographical views of the coastline, probably along the strait of Babelmandel Bab-el-Mandeb, are sketched from on board ship.

On the recto of WD3528, two detailed views indicate settlements, boats at anchor, fortifications, lighthouses and other structures as well as the rocky hills that line the coastline. Location cannot be determined due to damage to the support at the point where an inscription was intended to identify the place. However, it is likely that these views were sketched in the vicinity of those on the verso.

On the verso of WD3528 four further, less detailed views predominantly indicate geographic features along the coastline. Inscriptions indicate locations as follows: Babelmandel Island Barīm; Fisher or Pilots Island Island Fisherman’s Rock or Pilot’s Rock / Shaykh Malu Island; Babelmandel Cape Ras Bab el Mandeb; Babelmandel Quoin a wedge-shaped point on Ras Bab el Mandeb.

Due to extensive damage to the paper and despite subsequent repairs, much of the information on both recto and verso is rendered unusable or illegible. In the centre of the lower view on the recto, a later hand has redrawn sections of the missing image in pencil in a clumsy attempt to restore the image.

On the recto of WD3528a, which was the flysheet of a sketchbook comprising the drawings WD3528–WD3536, the name ‘Capt Elwon’ has been inscribed, indicating that the sketchbook belonged to Elwon.

Inscriptions:

WD3528 Recto:

Below lower view, in pencil: ‘Sketch of Cape lost Town’

WD3528 Verso:

Upper left corner, in pencil: ‘WD3528’

Upper view, in pencil: ‘Part of Penin. or Babelmandel Island Barīm, Ship steering West entrance of the Arab illegible aheads’

Upper middle view, in pencil: ‘Fisher or Pilots Island Fisherman’s Rock or Pilot’s Rock / Shaykh Malu Islandoff Babelmandel Cape Ras Bab el Mandeb’

Lower middle view, in pencil: ‘Babelmandel Quoin Ras Bab el Mandeb’

WD3528a Recto:

Centre of page, in pencil: ‘Capt Elwon’

Upper right corner, in pencil: ‘3528a’