Key Information

Photographer

Frederick Spencer Chapman

Collection

Hugh E. Richardson

Date of Photo

August 22nd 1936

Region

Tsangpo Valley Region > Nyethang

Accession number

BMR.86.1.71.1

The British Mission party on a path flooded by the Kyichu river near Nyethang. The path is following the Kyichu river on the route from Gangtok to Lhasa. Water from the flooded river is flowing onto the path forcing the caravan to walk very close to the rock face on the left. Developing storm clouds can be seen in the distance. The last horseman in the group is wearing a distinctive tie-dye textile and fur coat or chuba, which was typical of those worn by Sikkimese attendants and grooms or syce on the British Mission. More than fifty horses and ponies accompanied the mission to Lhasa in 1936. The British Mission members are being led on horseback by assistants. A mantra or religious recitation has been inscribed on rock face on left of image

Further Information

Photographic Process

Print gelatin silver

Expedition

British Diplomatic Mission to Lhasa 1936-37

Photo also owned by

Donated to the British Museum in 1986 by Hugh E. Richardson

Previous Catologue Number

CHA.34 In publication
'Lhasa Mission 1936, Diary of Events', P. Neame, H. Richardson, F. S. Chapman, Government of India Political Department [Note: photographs for October 18th - November 4th 1936 are not included as their relationship to text is not detailed; see Mission Diary text for details of images] [see photos in publication]

Related Collections

F. S. Chapman Collection in the Pitt Rivers Museum

Published

'Lhasa Mission 1936, Diary of Events', P. Neame, H. Richardson, F. S. Chapman, Government of India Political Department [Note: photographs for October 18th - November 4th 1936 are not included as their relationship to text is not detailed; see Mission Diary text for details of images] [view list of illustrations]

Other Information

Notes on print/mount - 'Kyi chu Valley' has been written beneath the image in the album in pencil, apparently not by Hugh Richardson [MS 26/08/2006]

Other Information - Album: This image appears alongside 3 others of rivers and scenes en route to Lhasa on page 71 of Hugh Richardson's album 'Lhasa 1936' [MS 26/08/2006]

Manual Catalogues -

Manual Catalogues - Caption in Chapman's hand-written list of negatives made whilst on the Mission to Lhasa, 1936-7 [See PRM Manuscripts Collection]: 'Submerged track near Chusul'; PRM Manuscripts Collection: ‘List of Tibetan Prints and Negatives’ - Book 1, From Gangtok to the Natu La August 1936: ‘27/1 - Flooded track near Chu-shul [Chusul] (11,600) where the Kyoi Chu, on which Lhasa stands meets the Tsang-po’ [MS 26/08/2006]

Other Information - Related Images

Other Information - Related Images: Images prefixed with 'CHA.' comprise a group of negatives containing images of yak hide boats and horses on and in the Tsangpo river, gifts being offered, Mission and Tibetan officials, scenes along the banks of the river and near Chushul and a ‘monastery village’ near Chushul. The collection of images have been given the heading ‘Army and Navy Prints’ at the top of Chapman’s hand-written list. This probably refers to the company that made the prints as there are four negative and print cases made by the Army & Navy Co-operative Society Limited, Bombay in the Pitt Rivers Museum archive. Alongside other notes on the inside of the cases are the annotations ‘L Set’, ‘J Set’, ‘Set H’ and all have been ascribed to the name of ‘The Political Officer Sikkim’. [MS 12/03/2006]

For Citation use:
The Tibet Album. "Mission party on flooded path near Nyethang" 05 Dec. 2006. The British Museum. <http://tibet.prm.ox.ac.uk/photo_BMR.86.1.71.1.html>.

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Mission party on flooded path near Nyethang