| RCS contains: |
|---|
| <-- See earlier |
|---|
| Y304M-O |
W. Powell collection on Africa 1930s |
| Y304P |
Lubumbashi Falls collection |
| Y3051A |
Views of Nyasaland [i.e. Malawi] 1885-86 |
| Y3051B |
Photographs of Nyasaland [i.e. Malawi], c. 1955 |
| Y30521C |
Thompson collection on Northern Rhodesia/Zambia |
| Y3052B |
Photographs of Mashonaland and Matabeleland |
| Y3052C |
Alexander Russell Southern Rhodesia [i.e. Zimbabwe] photographs, 1900-1901 |
| Y3052D |
Alexander Russell Rhodesia [i.e. Zimbabwe] photographs 1900-7 |
| Y3052E |
Views of the Victorian Falls |
| Y30547A |
General Photographs of Basutoland (Lesotho) |
| Y30549A |
Photographs taken in the Bechuanaland Protectorate [i.e. Botswana] |
| See later --> |
|---|
|
Photographs of Mashonaland and Matabeleland
| Title |
Photographs of Mashonaland and Matabeleland |
| Reference |
GBR/0115/Y3052B |
| Creator |
Surridge, Frank Harold, fl 1890 |
| Covering Dates |
June 1890-Sep. 1890 |
| Extent and Medium |
21 images in 1 album; Fair condition, with some fading at the edges. |
| Repository |
Cambridge University Library: Royal Commonwealth Society Library |
|
| Content and context |
|
Reverend Frank Harold Surridge had originally gone to South Africa to take up a position as Chaplain to the Archbishop of Cape Town but instead accepted the post of Church of England Chaplain to the Pioneer Column. Surridge did not settle in Mashonaland and later accepted a chaplaincy in India; he was still alive, in retirement, in 1940.
An album containing mounted prints measuring approximately 240 x 180 mm, with captions beneath the prints written in a fine copperplate hand. The photographs show scenes taken between June and September 1890 during the Pioneer trek in what was later to be Southern Rhodesia (currently Zimbabwe). On July 9 1891, soon after his return to England, Surridge delivered a lecture to the Royal Colonial Institute, entitled 'Matabeleland and Mashonaland'. This talk was illustrated with lantern slides of which these prints are presumably the originals.
The ordering of the prints in the album bears little relation to the chronology of the trek itself and possibly reflects the order in which the lantern slides accompanying Surridge's lecture were shown. A more correct order would be (showing print number, then area, then approximate date):
14, 17, 18 Umzingwane River July 15
11, 12 Banyailand July
15, 16, 20 Nuanetsie River July 28
10, 13, 21 Lundi River August 2
19 Savana Buli Rock August 2
2, 3, 6 Tokwe and Tokwani Rivers Early August
8, 9 Somoto's Kraal August 20
1, 4, 5, 7 Unspecific or unidentified locations ?
The album was presented to the Royal Colonial Institute in June 1891.
|
Access and Use
|
Please cite as Cambridge University Library: Royal Commonwealth Society Library, Photographs of Mashonaland and Matabeleland, Y3052B |
| Further information |
|
The source of the information provided in the album description is: Johnson, Frank William Frederick (1940), 'Great days: the autobiography of an empire pioneer', London: G Bell.
The text for the lecture is printed in: Royal Colonial Institute (1891), 'Matabeleland and Mashonaland', 'Proceedings of the Royal Colonial Institute', vol. XXII, pp.305-331, London: Royal Colonial Institute.
For an historical note on the occupation of Mashonaland see the introduction to Y3052A (where a photograph of Surridge among a group of other Pioneer Officers can be found at plate 2).
Indexed
This collection level description was entered by SG using information from the original typescript catalogue.
This collection is available on microfiche: Africa, fiche number 140.
|
| Index Terms |
| Africa |
| Zimbabwe |
| Surridge, Frank Harold (fl 1890) |
| RCS/Y3052B contains: |
|
1
|
Forest scene, Mashonaland. 205 x 153 mm. Showing two Africans standing on the bank of a stream with dense forest vegetation on either bank and overhead. Exact location and date are unknown.
Poor condition, overall fading and yellowing.. |
1890 |
|
2
|
Near Tokwe River, Mashonaland. 242 x 184 mm. A view looking down onto the laagered wagons of the Pioneer Column from a small hill. The wagons are laagered in an oval formation which is open at the more distant end where the flat grassland changes to forest. With horses grazing in the foreground. The photograph was taken in early August when the Pioneers crossed the Tokwe which lies about midway between the Lundi River and Fort Victoria.
Fair condition, some fading in from edges.. |
1 Aug. 1890–12 Aug. 1890 |
|
3
|
The Tokwani Stream, Mashonaland. 237 x 192 mm. Showing the column trekking through the Mashonaland bush. In the foreground a team of oxen has just crossed the small Tokwani Stream (one of the tributaries of the Tokwe); beyond the stream men can be seen at work attempting to right an overturned wagon with a block and tackle, while another team negotiates the sharp descent in the track which probably caused the accident. In the background a long line of wagons stretches away into the bush. The photograph was taken in early August.
Good condition, apart from some fading in from edges.. |
1 Aug. 1890–12 Aug. 1890 |
|
4
|
Goto's Kraal, Mashonaland. 236 x 180 mm. Showing a group of African villagers posed with a few unidentified Pioneers in a Mashona village. The huts are of the typical Mashona pattern, built of 'daga' with thatched roots. A smaller hut stands on the summit of a large granite boulder in the background. The exact location of Goto's Kraal has not been established, but it was probably somewhere in the area between the Lundi River and Providential Pass (the photograph was probably taken, therefore, in early August).
Fair condition, some fading in from edges.. |
1 Aug. 1890–12 Aug. 1890 |
|
5
|
In camp, Mashonaland. 192 x 235 mm. Showing a corner of the laager at an unidentified location with unsaddled horses grazing and an unidentified Pioneer standing in the foreground.
Good condition, apart from some fading at edges.. |
1890 |
|
6
|
On the Tokwani River, Mashonaland. 194 x 234 mm. A view looking along the Tokwani River with dense forest vegetation on either bank. The photograph was taken in early August. This is most probably the scene described in Surridge's lecture: 'On the smaller river, the Tokwani, one fairy glen specially may be mentioned. The large trees formed a perfect avenue overhead, and so thick was the overhanging foliage that the brilliant sunlight was almost obscured. Beneath were palms, growing to a height of about seven or eight feet; and amidst the rocks and around the edge of the perfectly clear stream, some lovely specimens of maidenhair fern were growing. The whole scene was a perfect picture, and one I can, I regret to say, but very feebly describe.' (Royal Colonial Institute, 1891, p. 315).
Good condition, apart from slight fading at edges.. |
1 Aug. 1890–12 Aug. 1890 |
|
7
|
Goto's Kraal, Mashonaland. 236 x 188 mm. Showing an European (not positively identified, but probably Francis Balfour, the Pioneer Column's Anglican Chaplain). Exact location unknown. The photograph was probably taken in early August.
Good condition, apart from slight fading in from edges.. |
1 Aug. 1890–12 Aug. 1890 |
|
8
|
Somoto's Kraal. 242 x 189 mm. Showing the circular thatched huts at Somoto's Kraal near Fort Victoria which are crowded on both level ground and on the huge granite boulders in the background. "Somoto's Village, by the soft rays of a tropical setting sun, was a picture not soon to be forgotten. In the distance one could dimly discern the forms of dark human beings, walking about uneasily upon the tops of the huge rocks upon which the village is standing ... the small huts of mushroom shape were dotted about upon the rocks wherever a site was available. Reaching the kraal at an early hour next morning, there were some signs of alarm, and certainly the earlier appearance of a white stranger with huge camera and tripod would naturally give rise to some suspicion ... ' (Royal Colonial Institute, 1890-1, p. 317). There is an unidentified European (not positively identified, but probably Francis Balfour, the Pioneer Column's Anglican Chaplain) in the foreground. The photograph was taken about August 20.
Fair condition, some fading in from edges.. |
20 Aug. 1890 |
|
9
|
Somoto's Kraal. 236 x 186 mm. A view of Somoto's Kraal near Fort Victoria with a small group of villagers and an unidentified European (not positively identified, but probably Francis Balfour, the Pioneer Column's Anglican Chaplain) in the foreground. The photograph was taken about August 20.
Fair condition, some fading in from edges.. |
20 Aug. 1890 |
|
10
|
On Lundi River. 240 x 183 mm. Showing outspanned oxen grazing on the bank of the Lundi River. The photograph was taken about August 2.
Fair condition, some fading in from edges.. |
2 Aug. 1890 |
|
11
|
In Banyiland. 197 x 149 mm. Oval print. Showing one of the great domed granite hills which rise out of the bush in the country south of Fort Victoria with outspanned oxen grazing in the foreground. Exact location unknown. The photograph was probably taken in early August.
Good condition.. |
1 Aug. 1890–12 Aug. 1890 |
|
12
|
Banyiland kraal on Mount 700 feet high. 187 x 225 mm. Showing a group of villagers and three Pioneers posed in front of huts at a Mashona kraal. The European at the left of the group is (Sir) Herman Melville Heyman (1859-1938), Commander of 'A' Troop of the BSACo Police contingent. The other two figures are unidentified, althoguh the central figure is possibly Frank Johnson. This photograph presumably coincided with the following passage from Surridge's lecture: "Go with me in thought to the top of one of the highest peaks some 600 or 700 feet above ground level, and you may see the misery of the Banyai people, devoid almost of everything after one such visit of their oppressors, the Matabele. Yes, I say, there was fear and trembling at the approach of the white man; and it was not until they were quite convinced in their own minds that we were friends instead of foes that they came from their hiding places. Then there were signs of welcome." (Royal Colonial Institute, 1891, p. 312).
Fair condition, some fading in from edges.. |
1890 |
|
13
|
The Lundi River, Matabeleland. 234 x 172 mm. A view from the bank looking north along the Lundi River with an European, (not positively identified, but probably Francis Balfour, the Pioneer Column's Anglican Chaplain) standing in the foreground. The photograph was probably taken about August 2.
Fair condition.. |
2 Aug. 1890 |
|
14
|
The Umzingwani River. 182 x 223 mm. A view looking along the wide, sand-bedded river from rising ground with thick bush stretching away to the horizon. According to Surridge: "The Umzingwani is certainly what may be called picturesque. The clear crystal stream, rushing on over its bed of golden sand, makes true the words of a well known missionary hymn. The picture is a true one, the brilliant tropical sun pouring down a flood of light upon the bed of the river below, when the sand becomes perfectly golden in colour, and the crystal stream ... depicts the scene of the rippling fountain and the golden sand. The banks of the Umzingwani are steep and well wooded ... From a neighbouring hill some four or five hundred feet in height, one is able to obtain an extensive view of the country around. There appears to be but little variation, neither is there. The river may be seen winding back towards Bulawayo, but there is little to indicate life except occassional visits from the inhabitants of Banyai kraals ... " ( Royal Colonial Institute, 1891, p. 310). The photograph was taken about July 15.
Fair condition, some fading in from edges.. |
15 July 1890 |
|
15
|
Nuanetsi River, Looking W. 237 x 186 mm. A view looking along the Nuanetsi River. In the foreground a group of Pioneers standing on the bank with their horses beside the drift made across the river by the advance party. According to Surridge: "The acacia groves, rising high upon the hills upon either bank, present a picture worthy of the artist's brush ... the scenery around the Nuanetsi River is hardly what would be expected; one could quite easily imagine it was some favoured spot in England ... There was some difficulty in finding a way through the rapid stream, as the bed of the river was a mass of huge boulders which rendered the passage of heavily laden wagons by no means an easy mater. The stream at the time was running with considerable force, whch added yet another difficulty to the transit of so large an expedition new upon its banks waiting to cross, which we did in safety." (Royal Colonial Institute, 1891, pp. 312-3). The photograph was probably taken July 28.
Fair condition, some fading in from edges.. |
28 July 1890 |
|
16
|
Nuanetsi River. 241 x 191 mm. A view looking upstream along the Nuanetsi with groups of Pioneers doing their laundry on the rocks in the foreground. The photograph was probably taken July 28.
Good condition, apart from some fading in from edges.. |
28 July 1890 |
|
17
|
The Umzingwani. 192 x 204 mm. A view looking down onto the drift over the Umzingwani, with a team of outspanned oxen drinking from the river and an unspanned wagon in the foreground. The photograph was taken about July 15.
Fair condition, some fading in from edges.. |
15 July 1890 |
|
18
|
Timber on the Umzingwani. 196 x 238 mm. Showing a large tree on the banks of the Umzingwani, with two unidentified Pioneers standing at its base. Surridge specifically mentions the size of the timber on the banks of the river compared to that in the neighbouring country (1891). The photograph was taken about July 15.
Fair condition, some fading in from edges.. |
15 July 1890 |
|
19
|
Great Rock. 1200 feet, near Lundi River. 185 x 219 mm. A view looking towards the huge half dome of the Savana Buli Rock from the flat bush land at its base. A group of Pioneers with their horses can be seen in the long grass in the foreground. The photograph was taken about August 2.
Fair condition, fading in from edges and some blemishes.. |
2 Aug. 1890 |
|
20
|
Nuanetsi River. 186 x 228 mm. A view looking upstream along the Nuanetsi with a few Pioneers standing on rocks in the foreground. The photograph was probably taken on July 28 .
Fair condition, fading in from edges.. |
28 July 1890 |
|
21
|
Ruins on Lundi River. 242 x 173 mm. Showing the neatly dressed stone wall of the enclosure found at Lundi by the Pioneers. The wall is decorated with two herring bone patterns running along the left hand section above which are two rows of spaced stones. Two unidentified Europeans are posed in front of the wall. The photograph was taken about August 2.
Fair condition, fading in from edges, small torn patch.. |
2 Aug. 1890 |
|
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