285 x 230 mm. The first in the sequence of three photographs of this ceremony (see Y3084A/23 and 35). Commodore Erskine is reading the proclamation before the flags are raised. In fact, Romilly had already mistakenly read the proclamation some days before, thinking these were his instructions. ('I made rather an ass of myself, or rather otherpeople made an ass of me ... we ... came up here and did it before the Commodore arrived. However, it did not make much difference, as he did it all over again when he arrived' (letter, November 11th, 1884). Romilly also displays, in his private letters, a less than wholehearted appreciation of the ceremonies of Empire: '... and between them they landed an imposing force of blue-jackets and marines, who fired repeated feux de joie and made us stand bareheaded in a frightful sun. I don't think I was ever so hot in my life, and we were very glad when it was over. The natives, who were beginning to get accustomed to seeing the flag hoisted, were apathetic, and only a few stragglers turned up. The distribution of "knives and tobacco on the preceding day amused them far more', (Letter, November 11th). Proclamation made from Lawes ' house; school house in background.