IDNO

P.99732.VH

Description

“Fijian Armed Constabulary, Suva, Viti Levu”. [von Hügel's annotation]

A squad of the Armed Native Constabulary, armed with Martini Henry rifles and mostly shirtless, standing at ease on the parade ground at Nasova, Suva, awaiting inspection by a Fijian officer wearing a dark coloured (blue or black?) vandyked isulu and white tunic. Notice the white bulidina cowry shells decorating the protruding ends of the ridge-pole of the house in the background, the colonial government having adopted these ancient Fijian symbols of spiritual and temporal authority. 1880-1890s. [The name “W.L. Allardice” in pencil on the mounting board presumably refers to W.L. Allardyce, colonial secretary thence governor of Fiji, who does not appear in the photographs.] See P.99729.VH for details of uniform. Also P.99730.VH & P.99731.VH. [Fergus Clunie, 14/7/2003]

Physical Condition: Print mounted onto card.

Place

Oceania Polynesia; Fiji; Viti Levu; Suva

Cultural Affliation

Named Person

Photographer

None

Collector / Expedition

von Hügel, Anatole (Baron)

Date

?1880 - 1886

Collection Name

von Hügel Collection

Source

von Hügel, Anatole (Baron)

Format

Print Black & White Mounted

Primary Documentation

Other Information

P.99725.VH to P.99758.VH were in the belted folder now numbered C539/1/. This was formerly kept in paper archive Large Box G; VH1/4/5. It has now been transferred to the photo archive. The lists describing the contents of this box have been returned to the Paper Archive.

Related Image: This print or negative appears to be a unique image within the MAA Photograph Collections. [JD 8/1/2012]

This print has been catalogued with the support of the Getty Grant Fund. [A. Nadin, 4/9/2003]