Key Information

Photographer

Sir Charles Bell or Rabden Lepcha?

Collection

Sir Charles Bell

Date of Photo

1904-1921

Region

Gyantse Region > Nyang Valley

Accession number

1998.286.73.1

Image Dimensions

78 x 103

Two beggars, one man wearing a head dress and neck ornaments, his thumbs held up; a child stands next to him. Photographed in the Nyang valley. Mountains in the background.

Further Information

Photographic Process

Negative Quarter Plate , Copy Negative

Date Acquired

Donated 1983

Donated by

St Antony's College, Oxford

Copy difference

Intensifier Tape Lantern Copy Neg

Expedition

Sir Charles Bell

Previous Catologue Number

Q.64

Previous Pitt Rivers Museum Number

BL.Q.64

Related Collections

British Library, Oriental and India Office Collections

Published

'The People of Tibet', Sir Charles Bell, Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1928 [view list of illustrations]

Manual Catalogues -

Manual Catalogues - Bell's List of Illustrations entry: "[No. of chapter] XX. [Subject of Chapter] Beggars and Robbers [Subject of Illustration] Q64. (a) Beggars in Nyang valley. [Remarks] L. 92. (Y in L)."

Contemporary Publication -

Contemporary Publication - Published in 'The People of Tibet', Bell, C. A., Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1928, facing p.134:"Tongue and thumbs. The beggar's salute." [MS 10/9/2004]

Other Information - Cultural Background

Other Information - Cultural Background: "A beggar's form of address is peculiar. No doubt a wide diversity marks the forms of salutation current in different countries of the world, but few can be more out of the ordinary than that used by the humbler classes in Tibet towards their social superiors. Peasant, shepherd, or labourer will put out his tongue when addressing - or addressed by - one of the gentry. A beggar adds the further compliment of putting up his two thumbs, thus signifying that the person addressed is of the first quality, and may be expected to give a present in accordance with his quality." The People of Tibet , Bell, C. A., Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1928, facing p.134. [MS 10/9/2004]

For Citation use:
The Tibet Album. "Beggars, Nyang Valley" 05 Dec. 2006. The Pitt Rivers Museum. <http://tibet.prm.ox.ac.uk/photo_1998.286.73.1.html>.

For more information about photographic usage or to order prints, please visit the The Pitt Rivers Museum.