British Central Africa (Pic Heavy)

[Plynkes]

I thought I'd share some photos and artwork from Harry Johnston's rather wonderful British Central Africa: An attempt to give some account of a portion of the territories under British influence north of the Zambesi. (1897) You may well have seen some of these pictures before, but I'm sure there's something here for most Darkest Africa nuts to get their teeth into.

His Last Fight


"In a secluded part of the precincts amid the scattered vegetation of the village outskirts I suddenly came across the body of a fine-looking Angoni, not many minutes dead. He might have been fighting on our side; he might haven been hired by the Arabs as one of their raiders, but someone had killed him with a bullet  through the head and he had fallen in his tracks, in all his panoply of war, scarcely conscious of the object for which he fought. His right hand still grasped the stabbing spear, his left still held the ox-hide shield. His throwing spears had flown from his hand and were scattered on the ground. Grimmest sight of all — four vultures had already arrived on the’ scene to examine him. Two birds promenaded up and down with a watchful eye, ready on noting any sign of returning consciousness to take their departure; another bird, somewhat bolder, stood on one leg and inspected him as might a thoughtful surgeon; and the fourth whirled in circles on out-spread pinions round the body, wishing to settle but frightened, in case after all it was a swoon and not a death."

Note the fletched spear and zebra-mane headdress, just like on the Copplestone figures.
(I wish they weren't so thick on those figs, mind, they don't look quite right to me  )



Some architecture:






I wonder if they sell gob-stoppers and penny chews?










Ain't exactly Fort fucking Zinderneuf, is it?


How the other half live...

[Plynkes]

The British Military Presence









When I did my own version of these guys,


It came out quite similar to this depiction...


But looking at the photos there seem to be some mistakes in the description that has come down to us. They have dark puttees instead of Zouave-style gaiters for one thing.










I think Copplestone got these fellows bang on.

[Plynkes]

The book pretty much covers everything to do with British Central Africa. Geography, history, peoples, you name it.

Some types...


Johnston's Zanzibari right-hand man.



















The lake "Arabs" seem to be for the most part black Africans, that is to say culturally Arab, rather than actually descended from people from Arabia. Might be worth bearing in mind when painting.


This Tanganyika Arab looks more like how you might expect.


Another of Hammers' cheese-shop men.

[Plynkes]

He also goes into great detail about botany and zoology (I swear half the book is plants and animals, and I think he personally killed every specimen). He was quite the Stephen Maturin, and then some. There is also a chapter on all the lovely horrible diseases and parasites just itching to take a bite out of any white men silly enough to come near them.





He studies the natives in much the same way, and is hilariously obsessed with comparing buttock and penis sizes between Africans, Europeans and "Asiatics." Oh, those wacky Victorians.




I only included this one because the caption is so funny.


This one is for Hammers, he likes to see a well-made native lad does our Hammers.




Some weapons.


One for the hobbits and stoners among us.



That's it, I think.

[Clearco]

Amazing pics! Thank you very much for share them!
I found particularly interesting a pair of photos of Ngoni and Ruga-Ruga that I didn´t know before  They will be of great help when converting and painting 

[v_lazy_dragon]

Cracking post!

[SABOT]

A great resource.

[Bugsda]

Outstanding, thanks Bwana Plynkes

[Hammers]

A wonderful post, Dylan.

I wonder if the man  made measurements and comparisons of, how can I put this delicately?, "Dachshunds Ears" (Swedish term), between African, European and Asian ladies of a certain age and experience?

[inkydave]

Ooh nice. Can never have enough 'DA' resources in my book Thanks Plynkes.

'Young Africa' is actually the artful dodger from the Nyasaland festival players production of Oliver. I think Cecil Rhodes as Fagin was the star turn though.

[emergencyoverride]

Very nice! And a good reference. I am just getting started in this genre and have been soaking up information like a sponge, as there is so much knowledge to acquire. It is a little daunting, but in a fun way, and posts like this are a great help. Basically at this point, I don't know where I'm going, but I'm making good time.

[Dr Mathias]

Seriously, thanks for posting the pictures. I've had that book on my want list for quite some time, I had no idea it was such a treasure trove.

Amazing.

Do you have an original copy or a facsimile? I'm hesitant to get the latter.

[Traveler Man]

Wonderful photos, and highly useful. One thing - the Union flag in the hoisting ceremony at Fort Maguire is upside down. I think the photo got reversed - the army wouldn't make such a mistake.

[Hobbit]

Great post overall, but I love the Sikh officer figure, where's he from? (I mean the manufacturer - please don't say "The Punjab" )

[Kingscarbine]

  Great stuff. Thanks for uploading these images. I can see that Mark Copplestone was certainly inspired by that book.

I feel DA fever returning... Or is it malaria?