Context (CMS Context)
(Bio) Lieutenant Samuel Pasfield Oliver, (Captain: 1871), Royal Artillery, visited Madagascar during 1861-2, and witnessed King Radama II’s coronation at Antananarivo (23 Sept 1861), and returned later in 1863 on HMS Rapid following the King’s presumed assassination, (12 May 1863).

The Annual Report for 1893 notes that Captain S. Pasfield Oliver, late R.A., gave a collection of "fifty-nine sketches and finished drawings in pencil, in;, and water colours, of prehistoric stone monuments, tumuli, and burial places, sketched by the donor in England, the Channel Islands, Brittany, Etruria, Sardinia, Greece, the Troad, Madagasgar, Japan and" as well as a number of books to the library". It is likely that the Madagascan material here accessioned as 2011.96-232 is part of this donation. Transferred from the Haddon library in a card folio in 2010.

Event Date 5/10/2011
Author: maa

Description (CMS Description)
Watercolour and pencil painting on paper mounted on cardboard. Image shows landscape of hills with village in valley and figures in the foreground. Inscription: 'Beforona, The unhealthiest place in the world. Political prisoners sent here to die. Md.. Ida Pfeiffer detained here, died of fever subsequently. Clearing is marshy site in the forest'. 'S. Pasfield Oliver Lieut. R.A., A.D.C'. 'Beforona, September 30th /62', 'S.P.O.', '6'.
Event Date 5/10/2011
Author: maa

Context (CMS Context)
Austrian travel writer Ida Pfeiffer visited Madagascar in May 1857, and became involved (?unwittingly) in a plot with several other Europeans (e.g. Jean Laborde) and the crown prince Rakoto (the future king Radama II), to overthrow the government. She and other Europeans were expelled from the country in July 1857, and died in 1858, possibly from malaria, that she had contracted in Madagascar. The 'Reise nach Madagascar' was issued in 1861 (Vienna), with a biography by her son.
Event Date 6/2/2012
Author: Rachel Hand