Photo, Print, Drawing Picquet of the 4th Goorkhas, Basawul.
About this Item
Title
- Picquet of the 4th Goorkhas, Basawul.
Summary
- In the fall of 1878, The Illustrated London News dispatched the Scottish artist William Simpson (1823--99) to Afghanistan in anticipation of a conflict between Britain and Afghan tribal leaders. The British were concerned about growing Russian influence in the region and a possible Russian threat to British India. Fighting broke out in November 1878, precipitating what became known as the Second Afghan War (1878--80). Simpson documented the conflict, but he was also interested in people he encountered and places he visited, especially ancient Buddhist ruins, several of which he excavated. Shown in this sketch, dated December 12, 1878, is a watchful picket of the Fourth Gurkha Regiment at Basawul. Gurkha soldiers, recruited in Nepal for service in the British Indian Army, were known for their courage and fighting power. The sketch is from the Anne S.K. Brown Military Collection at the Brown University Library.
Names
- Simpson, William, 1823-1899 Artist.
Created / Published
- [place of publication not identified] : [publisher not identified], 1878-12-12.
Headings
- - Afghanistan--Nangarhār--Basawul
- - 1878-12
- - Afghan Wars
- - Gurkhas
- - Library of Congress Afghanistan Project
- - Soldiers
- - Watercolors
Notes
- - Title devised, in English, by Library staff.
- - Original resource extent: Water-color drawing ; 57 x 38 centimeters.
- - Original resource at: Brown University Library.
- - Content in English.
- - Description based on data extracted from World Digital Library, which may be extracted from partner institutions.
Medium
- 1 online resource.
Source Collection
- Original Sketches Made in Afghanistan during the Campaign of 1878-79 with the Peshawer Field Force
Digital Id
Library of Congress Control Number
- 2021670495
Online Format
- compressed data
- image