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Dyak Chief and family, Borneo, 1880 - 1889

 Item
Reference Code: GBR/0115/RCS/Y302B/46

Scope and Contents

266 x 207 mm. An elaborately posed group in front of their house. The photographer has been at pains to introduce into the picture as many artefacts and utensils as possible.

Roth identifies the following components of the photograph:
A slabit for carrying back loads; behind it the frame on which the women stretch their yarn for tying in the patterns by the process of saving, and afterwards brushing on the dye.
Thin drum, with fish trap (ensenga) behind it; further to the right, a rice basket, and in the background a heap of palm leaf for atap.
Mother seated on woven cloth.
Father seated on map.
Belle, in festive attire; head dress of beads threaded on brass wire (?) brass aigrettes, small pieces of coloured cloth; whole dress hidden by festoons of beads.
Girls seated on woven cloth; corset ornamented with sheet brass; armlets of large shells.
Hat hidden by shield.
Water gourds.
Dulang - wooden trough for catching rain water (?).
Scupper for excavating post holes.
Atap apong - palm leaf roof.
Atap Papan - shingle roof.

In Roth (1896), this photograph is entitled 'A Rejang River Dyak House' and credited to 'Mr Lambert of Singapore'. Photograph by G.R. Lambert and Co.















Dates

  • Creation: 1880 - 1889

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

From the Fonds:

Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).

Language of Materials

English

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Fair condition, slight fading, printed from a cracked plate.

Existence and Location of Copies

CN 917 and 1047.

Bibliography

This photograph is reproduced in: Roth, Henry Ling (1896), The Natives of Sarawak and British North Borneo, London: Truslove and Hanson, volume 2, page 1.

General

SG.

Date information

DateText: The photographs were probably taken in the 1880s..

Originator(s)

G R Lambert and Co

Finding aid date

2003-10-20 11:24:05+00:00

Includes index.

Repository Details

Part of the Cambridge University Library Repository

Contact:
Cambridge University Library
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Cambridge CB3 9DR United Kingdom