Key Information

Photographer

Arthur Hopkinson

Collection

A. J. Hopkinson

Date of Photo

June 21st 1927

Region

Gyantse > Paper Factory

Accession number

BMH.C.50.1

Image Dimensions

85 x 114

Policeman at the shooting contest carrying the stave which indicated his authority at the event and which would be used to keep the crowd in order and behind lines during the competition. Behind him stand two manacled convicts who had been begging at the event and whose leg irons can just be seen. This photograph was taken on the occasion of the annual Gun and Arrow Competition at Gyantse in 1927. The site of the competition was close to the Paper Factory, about ten minutes from the Fort where the Agency staff stayed. Tents can be seen in the background behind the crowd gathered around the policeman

Further Information

Photographic Process

Negative film nitrate

Expedition

A. J. Hopkinson's Tour of Duty as British Trade Agent, Gyantse, 1927-28

Manual Catalogues -

Manual Catalogues - [Caption in A. J. Hopkinson's negative album 'Tibet C']: '[Paper Factory Arrow Shooting] Police ?trunk?' [MS 28/04/2006]

Notes on print/mount - One contact print made from this negative is contained in A. J. Hopkinson's negative case with the negative. "A. J. Hopkinson" has been written on the back in pencil, along with the reference 'C.50' [MS 03/07/2006]

Other Information - Description: [Extract from taped interview, Richard Blurton and Mrs Hopkinson] 'The policeman with the beggar prisoners behind him, two in manacles; the young one with the cap is just a companion. I think he probably [is] maybe the son of the one of them. The drunken policeman' [MS 03/07/2006]

Other Information - Dates

Other Information - Dates: For dating of image and further description, see A. J. Hopkinson Archive, OIOC British Library, Mss Eur D998/54, Journal Letters from Gyantse and Various Camps, 1927-28, commencing June 26th 1927, Gyantse, pages 1-3 [MS 01/07/2006]

Other Information - Setting

Other Information - Setting: Comment in Hopkinson's journal for this day: “The crowd at the Arrow Shooting was awfully interesting and I took heaps of photos” [ibid., p.3] [MS 03/07/2006]

For Citation use:
The Tibet Album. "Policeman at Gyantse Gun and Arrow competition" 05 Dec. 2006. The British Museum. <http://tibet.prm.ox.ac.uk/photo_BMH.C.50.1.html>.

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