IDNO

N.129734.HNL

Description

View of a sailboat with an oculus resting at a boat yard in Nosy Be. [FC 03/02/2016]

Physical Condition: Light damage is present at the center of the negative [FC 03/02/2016]

Place

E Africa; Indian Ocean; Madagascar; Nosy Be [Nossi-bé]

Cultural Affliation

Named Person

Photographer

Hornell, James

Collector / Expedition

Hornell, James [?visit to Madagascar, Comoro Islands, Aldabra and Seychelles [1926]

Date

1926

Collection Name

Hornell Collection

Source

Hornell, Charlotte (Mrs)

Format

Film Negative Black & White

Primary Documentation

Other Information

P.129703.HNL - P.129945.HNL were found unaccessioned in Drawer C.44.21 of the Photo Store, in a cardboard box, now numbered C703/.

N.129734.HNL - N.129738.HNL were found in a buff envelope, now numbered C703/3.

Context: James Hornell writes "Boat Oculi Survivals: Additional Records" (Jul. - Dec., 1938) The Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland. Vol. 68; "In 1926 1 had the opportunity to visit most of the seaports on the east, north, and north-west coasts of Madagascar. Except on the surf-beaten east coast, the outrigger canoe is the usual fishing and inshore craft, whereas for coasting and cargo purposes undecked vessels of a heavier description are employed. Usually they are of the Arab sambuk design, but sometimes a double-ended lighter type is used, probably of European introduction.
On none of the outrigger canoes was there any sign of the oculus, possibly because they are never painted, but I again found a Zanzibari jehazi with an oculus placed con- spicuously on either bow (P1. XX, B). This was at Nossi Be. The oculus had the form of a broad circle painted in white upon an extensive green triangular patch, of which the cutwater edge formed the base. Otherwise the vessel and her equipment were of typical Arab design. As already mentioned, vessels of the same type, with a similar type of oculus, are found at Zanzibar, so it is evident that in this part of the world it is not an exceptional decoration of local vessels of this description, Arab though it be.
Another instance of the use of the oculus was its occurrence on a heavy, two-masted coaster of lighter type also seen at Nossi B6 (P1.XX, A). The whole exterior of the hull was coloured black, with the exception of a white circle surmounted by a downward curved white line-the eyeball and eyebrow of an oculus painted on each bow.
The problem of the origin of these peculiar oculi on the canoes and boats of this region is conditioned by two considerations, namely :-(1) the duplication of the oculi on the quarters as well as on the bows of the Zanzibari and Comoro Islands vessels is paralleled nowhere in the world except on the ninth century sculptured ships of Boro Budur in Java, and the elegant double-ended craft of the Botel Tobago islanders; (2) migrations of Indonesians from Sumatra and Java to Madagascar occurred during the first millennium of our era.
That some sea-craft of Zanzibar and northern Madagascar, manned or owned by professing Muhammadans, should have round oculi of the Indonesian type appears to be due to imitation of a long established local custom by the owners and crew, because of a lingering superstition and in spite of their Moslem principles. Nothing is inherently improbable in this conclusion; I have seen Muhammadans as well as high caste Hindus offering candles at the shrine of the Madonna (represented as " Our Lady of the Snows ") in a Portuguese church at Tuticorin, South India" (346)