Lantern slides of Tibet. Photographer(s): Unknown.

Collection of lantern slides of Tibet in two boxes (Photo 319/1-2). Two boxes containing respectively 44 and 49 monochrome lantern slides. The majority of the slides are captioned and the overall collection appears to relate to a Tibetan journey made in 1929-30 by Major Daniel Richard Smith, Indian Political Service, who was then trade agent at Gyangze (assuming that the Major Smith who is identified in some of slides is the same figure). The quality of the photographs is generally good and the collection as a whole can be broadly described as follows:. Box 1 (Photo 319/1) Of the 44 slides, captions have been supplied for 16. These show: scene between Gangtok and Karponaug, with Mrs Dash and Tibetan peasant (1); glacier below Donkya La (2); scenes below Donkya La (3-7); The Dzong or fortress at Phari (8-9); Champithang, the first rest-house in Tibet (10); Kazi Gompa (11); camp below Donkya La (12); [?]Gautsa Gorge (13); Kinchenjau (14); possibly a view from Donkya La Pass (15); yak train on the way to Phari (16). These identifications were supplied by comparison of the slides with prints in an album of the same photographs lent to the India Office Library by Mrs P. Hatchwell. The remainder of the slides are not identifiable from the album, but clearly tie up with the locations of the slides above. Box 2 (Photo 319/2) The slides are numbered 1-50 (no. 47 is missing), with an index pasted into the top of the box giving brief identifications. The following list describes some of the main subjects covered: mule caravan near Kinchenjunga (4); bridges in Sikkim (5-6); distant view of Kinchenjunga (7); the Gompa of the Maharaja of Sikkim (8-9); the Teesta Valley (10); scenes between Gangtok and Karponang (11-12); crossing the Nathu-La (13-15); leaving Champithang (16); yak herdsmen (17); Gompa at Kazi (18-19); Gautsa Gorge (21-27); first view of Chomoalari (28); members of the expedition (29); the British trade agent Capt. Smith and Lieut McLeod of the escort, on horseback (30); Tibetan beggars (31); farmers in the field, Phari (32); yak near Phari (33); Chomoalari from Phari rest-house (34); views at Phari (35-38); near Gautsa (39-40); Lingmathan Monastery (41-42); near the summit of Jelep-La (43); landslide below Kalimpong (44); a Sikkimese valley (45); Phari Dzong (49).

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