IDNO

P.99758.VH

Description

F.H. Dufty photograph of a sketch by Arthur J.L. Gordon of a war party of Armed Native Constabulary sotia and auxiliaries triumphantly bringing in the body of a meca or enemy warrior they have shot for presentation during Sir Arthur Gordon’s “Little War” in the highlands of Vitilevu, 1876. The corpse has been trussed face upwards to a pole and is being carried at arms height above the heads of the war party in the same way as a bokola or cannibal sacrifice was borne for presentation. (A “half-joking” request was made for him to be cooked and eaten.) The men are in their Christian warrior dress, with liku skirts over their malo loincloths. [Fergus Clunie, 14/7/2003]

Physical Condition: Print mounted onto card.

Place

Oceania Polynesia; Fiji; Vitilevu

Cultural Affliation

Named Person

Photographer

Gordon, Arthur J.L. [Original Artist]; Dufty, Francis Herbert (Dufty Brothers, Levuka)

Collector / Expedition

von Hügel, Anatole (Baron)

Date

circa ?1876

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 9/1/2012]

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