Finding Aid for the British Occupation of Kandahār Album
Beth Ann Guynn
Descriptive Summary
Title: British Occupation of Kandahār Album
Date (inclusive): 1881
Number: 2013.R.5
Creator/Collector:
Dr. Benjamin Simpson
Physical Description:
1 album
(72 photographic prints)
Repository:
The Getty Research Institute
Special Collections
1200 Getty Center Drive, Suite 1100
Los Angeles 90049-1688
reference@getty.edu
URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10020/askref
(310) 440-7390
Abstract: The album documents Kandahār and
environs following the British siege of Kandahār in 1880. Included are local landmarks,
tribal groups, occupational portraits, street scenes, and scenes of the British
occupation.
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Language: Collection material is in English
Biographical/Historical Note
Dr. Benjamin Simpson (1831-1923) had a long career as a British army surgeon, spanning five
decades from 1853 to 1890 and culminating in his appointment as Surgeon General of India. A
group of portraits he took in India was exhibited at the London International Exhibition of
1862, while other photographs were reproduced as lithographs in Colonel Edward Tuite
Dalton's
Descriptive Ethnology of Bengal (1872).
Administrative Information
Access
Open for use by qualified researchers.
Preferred Citation
British Occupation of Kandahār album, 1881, The Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles,
Accession no. 2013.R.5.
http://hdl.handle.net/10020/cifa2013r5
Acquisition Information
Acquired in 2013.
Processing History
Cataloged by Beth Ann Guynn in 2013.
Digitized Materials
The collection was digitized in 2013 and the images are available online:
http://hdl.handle.net/10020/cifa2013r5
Scope and Content of Collection
The Second Anglo-Afghan War (1878-1880) concluded with the British defeat of the Afghani
leader, Ayub Khan, at the Battle of Kandahār on September 1, 1880. The British withdrew from
Kandahār on April 22, 1881. This album of 72 albumen photographs taken by Dr. Benjamin
Simpson documents Kandahār and environs in the period following the September battle during
which British troops continued to occupy the area. Included are local landmarks, tribal
groups, occupational portraits, street scenes, and scenes of the British occupation. Sites
depicted include the Durrani Gate, the Baba Wali Kotal, the ruins of Kandahār Citadel;
Chilzina or the Forty Steps, and the Kerka Sharif or Shrine of the Cloak, which holds the
cloak believed to have been worn by the Prophet Mohammed.
Images related to the British army include views of the camps and barracks, officer's
quarters, the military cemetery, and the artillery and base hospital squares. Several group
portraits depict the medical staff, engineers, headquarters staff, transport officers, and
political officers. There are two group portraits of officers who were present at the siege
of Kandahār, and a group portrait of Afghan officials that includes Ghazi Mohammed Ayub
Kahn, the leader of the Afghan forces during the Second Anglo-Afghan War, his son, and the
Imran Sahib Zadah. Images 14-18, mounted on sequential leaves, form a panorama taken from
Karez Hill that encompasses Chilzina and the Murcha Pass.
The album covers are dark green leather; the front cover is detached and the spine is
missing. Photographs are mounted on 36 leaves (one photograph each, recto and verso). The
photographs are signed and/or numbered in the negatives: B. Simpson. Titles are from the
numbered letterpress captions (numbered 1-75 with omissions), affixed below most of the
photographs. Titles devised by the cataloger are enclosed in square brackets.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in a single series:
Series I. British Occupation of Kandahār Album,
1881.
Indexing Terms
Subjects - Topics
Afghan Wars
Islamic shrines -- Afghanistan -- Kandahār
Tombs -- Afghanistan -- Kandahār
Subjects - Places
Afghanistan -- Description and travel
Afghanistan -- History, Military -- 19th century
Kandahār (Afghanistan) -- Antiquities
Kandahār (Afghanistan) -- Description and travel
Genres and Forms of Material
Albumen prints -- Afghanistan -- 19th century
Photographs, Original
Photograph albums -- Afghanistan -- 19th century
Contributors
Dr. Benjamin Simpson
Series I.
British Occupation of Kandahār Album,
1881
British Occupation of Kandahār Album (digitized version): 1881
Arrangement
In original order.
page Verso front free endpaper
2013.R.5-ffe_v
Blank page
page 1 recto
2013.R.5-1r
1. Tomb of Ahmed Shah from SW Bastion of Citadel
page 1 verso
2013.R.5-1v
3. View of City, from Signal Tower Looking West
page 2 recto
2013.R.5-2r
4. Deh Khoja, from above the Durani Gate
page 2 verso
2013.R.5-2v
5. Deh Khoja, from the Cabuli Gate
page 3 recto
2013.R.5-3r
6. Murcha Pass, from top of Durani Gate
page 3 verso
2013.R.5-3v
7. The "Sisters" and Walis' Burial Ground, from Durani Gate
Page 4 recto
2013.R.5-4r
8. The Baba Wali Kotal, Showing the Position of Ayaub's Guns
page 4 verso
2013.R.5-4v
9. Ditto, Ditto, on the North Side of Kotul [The Baba Wali Kotal, Showing the
Position of Ayaub's Guns on the North Side]
page 5 recto
2013.R.5-5r
10. Ayaub's Camp in the Arg
page 5 verso
2013.R.5-5v
11. Tombs of Hazrati and Shere Ali's Father
page 6 recto
2013.R.5-6r
12. Baba Wali Kotal, from the Beloch Lines
page 6 verso
2013.R.5-6v
13. Karez Hill and Kokoran, from Corner of Picket Hill
page 7 recto - 9 recto
Panorama Taken from Karez Hill Embracing Chilzina and the Murcha
Pass
Scope and Content Note
Five part panorama, each part mounted separately in the album moving from the left
side of the image to the right side. The individual parts are numbered 14-18; only
number 14 bears a caption which serves as a title for the entire panorama.
page 7 recto
2013.R.5-7r
14. Panorama Taken from Karez Hill... [Rock Outcroppping above Fields and
Mountains]
page 7 verso
2013.R.5-7v
15. [Man Standing on a Rock Outcropping Overlooking Fields]
page 8 recto
2013.R.5-8r
16. [View of Fields Looking Towards Mountains]
page 8 verso
2013.R.5-8v
17. [British Encampment on the Plain]
page 9 recto
2013.R.5-9r
18. [View of Plain with British Encampement to Left]
page 9 verso
2013.R.5-9v
19. Group of Officers Present during the Siege
page 10 recto
2013.R.5-10r
20. Ditto, Ditto, Ditto [Group of Officers Present during the
Siege]
Scope and Content Note
Depicts another group of officers present during the siege of Kandahār.
page 10 verso
2013.R.5-10v
21. Theatrical Troupe
Scope and Content Note
The troupe is comprised of British soldiers. One actor is dressed as a vendor of
camel pies.
page 11 recto
2013.R.5-11r
22. Baba Wali Kotal, from the 27th Lines
page 11 verso
2013.R.5-11v
23. Signal Tower, from the Wall of the Citadel
page 12 recto
2013.R.5-12r
24. European Cemetery
page 12 verso
2013.R.5-12v
25. View from North Wall, Showing the Cemetery within the Walls and Giving a
General View of the City
page 13 verso
2013.R.5-13r
26. [Another View from North Wall, Showing the Cemetery within the Walls and
Giving a General View of the City]
page 13 verso
2013.R.5-13v
27. Signal Tower
page 14 recto
2013.R.5-14r
28. Ditto [Signal Tower]
Scope and Content Note
Depicts another view of the signal tower.
page 14 verso
2013.R.5-14v
29. Group Hazāras
page 15 recto
2013.R.5-15r
30. Group, Ayaub's Ambassadors
Scope and Content Note
Caption continues: Abdulla Khan sitting on the right, his son on the left, and Umrjan
Sahib Zadah in the centre. The last named is said to have raised all the Ghazis
against us at Maiwand.
page 15 verso
2013.R.5-15v
[Group Portrait of Five Afghanis]
page 16 recto
2013.R.5-16r
31. The Medical Staff at Kandahār
page 16 verso
2013.R.5-16v
32. Group of Natives at Ziarat-i-Hazratji
page 17 recto
2013.R.5-17r
33. Group, Parsiwans
page 17 verso
2013.R.5-17v
34. Group, Timuris
page 18 recto
2013.R.5-18r
35. Edegah Gate
Scope and Content Note
Image depicts a mounted officer in front of the gate next to an unmounted camel;
soldiers stand within the gate.
page 18 verso
2013.R.5-18v
36. Camels Coming out of Durani Gate
page 19 recto
2013.R.5-19r
37. Heyland Cart and Pack Mules Showing the Different Kinds of Pack
Saddles
page 19 verso
2013.R.5-19v
38. Transport Officers
page 20 recto
2013.R.5-20r
39. Looking across the Agrandab Valley from Baba Wal Ziarat
page 20 verso
2013.R.5-20v
41. Chilzina or the 40 Steps
page 21 recto
2013.R.5-21r
42. Ahmed Shah's Tomb, from Khirka Sharif
page 21 verso
2013.R.5-21v
43. The Ruins from Kandahār Citadel
page 22 recto
2013.R.5-22r
44. Khirka Shariff, the Shrine Where the Mantle of the Prophet is
Preserved
Scope and Content Note
Caption continues: The old Kazi who appears in the picture is stated to be 112 years
of age.
page 22 verso
2013.R.5-22v
45. Char Su, the Point to Which the Roads from the Principal Gates
Converge
Scope and Content Note
Caption continues: - the scene of Capt. Willis' murder by a Ghazi. Image depicts a
procession of Afghanis, led by officials, emerging from the gate.
page 23 recto
2013.R.5-23r
46. Courtyard of Wali Shere Ali's Zenana
page 23 verso
2013.R.5-23v
47. In the Streets of Kandahār
Scope and Content Note
Image depicts groups of men in and around a portico.
page 24 recto
2013.R.5-24r
48. In the Streets of Kandahār
Scope and Content Note
Image depicts groups of men gathered in various doorways and windows, and in the
street.
page 24 verso
2013.R.5-24v
49. Artillery Square Showing Main Bastion of Citadel
page 25 recto
2013.R.5-25r
50. Cantonment, 63rd Reigment, Barrack Square
page 25 verso
2013.R.5-25v
52. Picnic in Argandab Valley
page 26 recto
2013.R.5-26r
53. Group, Political Officers
page 26 verso
2013.R.5-26v
54. Group of Natives, Taken in the Walis' Zenana, Lately Used as a
Durbar
page 27 recto
2013.R.5-27r
55. Afghan Horse Dealers
page 27 verso
2013.R.5-27v
56. Group, Officers of Transport Department
page 28 recto
2013.R.5-28r
58. A Beluchi Beggar: "Dato Obolum Belisario"
page 28 verso
2013.R.5-28v
59. General Hume's Quarters and Officers' Quarters, 11th and 63rd
Regiments
page 29 recto
2013.R.5-29r
60. Base Hospital Square and Cantonments
page 29 verso
2013.R.5-29v
61. Group of Fakirs
page 30 recto
2013.R.5-30r
62. Barracks Square, 78th Highlanders
page 30 verso
2013.R.5-30v
63. Headquarters Staff
page 31 recto
2013.R.5-31r
64. Group, Engineer Officers
page 31 verso
2013.R.5-31v
65. Cantonment, from Picket Hill
page 32 recto
2013.R.5-32r
66. Gymkhana in Foreground
page 32 verso
2013.R.5-32v
67. Walis' Burial Ground from North
page 33 recto
2013.R.5-33r
68. Ditto, from South [Walis' Burial Ground from South]
page 34 verso
2013.R.5-33v
69. View of Plain North and East of Kandahār, Showing Graves
&c
page 34 recto
2013.R.5-34r
70. Interior of Walis' Burial Ground Showing Graves
page 34 verso
2013.R.5-34v
71. Kandahār from Hazratji's Shrine Showing Full Extent of N. and E.
Walls
page 35 recto
2013.R.5-35r
72. [Another View from Hazratji's Shrine Showing Full Extent of N. and E.
Walls]
page 35 verso
2013.R.5-35v
73. Headquarters
page 36 recto
2013.R.5-36r
74. Col. St. Johns' Residence in the City
page 36 verso
2013.R.5-36v
75. Chilzina and Old Kandahār, From Picket Hill
