Lady White's Presentation Album: Visit to the Southern Shan States, March 1909. Photographer(s):...

Black diced leather album measuring 315x425mm (binding broken and covers scuffed and detached), with silver monogram 'FTW' in interlaced letter attached to front cover. An inscription pasted to the front free endpaper reads: 'Presented to Lady White as a souvenir of her visit to the S.S. States, March 1909, by [here follows a series of signatures in Burmese script]'. The prints are attached to the album page along the top edge only, so thay they can be lifted to read the pencilled captions written beneath. This has unfortunately led to damage to some prints, where the free corners have been bent, and sometime broken when the page has been turned. The album contains a number of formal group portraits of British and Burmese dignitaries, topographical views of towns in the Shan States and portraits of the hill tribes of the Shan States. Although presented to Lady White in 1909, the views do not appear to relate to her visit to the Southern Shan States in that year. Several captions state that the photographs were taken at a garden party in 1905, and this certainly refers to the large gathering at the Taunggyi Residency on 6 March held in honour of the visit of Sir Hugh Barnes, Lieutenant-Governor or Burma in March of that year. The following extract from the 'Report on the Administration of the Southern Shan States for the Year 1904-05' gives something of the exotic flavour of this durbar:. The Durbar assemblage was a complete success. It is calculated that 10,000 persons came to Taunggyi. The Chief of Kantarawadi alone brought in 300 followers. There was no crime and no sickness...In imitation of a highly successful feature of Sir George Scott's Durbar last year the Chiefs again brought in representatives of the wild hill tribes. These were red Karens, Yangtalai, Yinbaw, Brè, Padaung, Yan Sek, Yang Wan Hkun, Zayein, Palaungs and others. These displayed their curious dresses, played their wierd music, and exhibited their quaint dancing at a garden party at the Residency. They excited the most lively interest and they all returned to their homes safely having enjoyed themselves and interested all who saw them. (p.5). Some of the views of Intha leg rowers on Inlè Lake were probably also taken during the visit:. Sir Hugh Barnes, after leaving Taunggyi went to Fort Stedman and stayed there a day. The Sawbwa had arranged a regatta for his entertainment. The programme was very full and was carried out in the most perfect manner. All the towns and villages sent their racing boats and the championship of the lake was keenly contested. An enormous bamboo raft was anchored near the winning post; it was roofed and fitted up like an audience hall and was profusely decorated. Sir Hugh Barnes witnessed the entertainment from here. The feature of the races was the Intha method of rowing with a leg and an arm instead of with two arms. It was estimated that 20,000 people were on the water and all were wearing the best clothes and were bedecked with the extravagant jewellery which the rich lake dwellers possess. (p.5). Some of the views, however, may have been taken at Sir George Scott's 1904 durbar mentioned above and described in the report for the preceding year:. A durbar was held at Taunggyi with functions which extended from the 9th to the 16th May...the Sawbwas and their followers amounted to something like 4,000, a very much greater number than had ever come before...A feature of the durbar was the appearance for the first time of brass collared Padaung women, Red Karens with huge brass gaiters and bedecked with necklaces of of beads, seeds and rupees; Yang Wan Hkun with black flounced skirts and a singularly effective bamboo band to the striking airs of which men and women danced...Only four chiefs were absent, all of them on account of illness. Another, a minor, the Wanyin Myoza, was not permitted to attend because he had run away from school seven times... (p.2). It seems likely that print 1, for instance, was taken during the 1904 durbar, since Sir Hugh Barnes is not present in the group and Sir George Scott, as Superintendent of the Southern Shan States, is seated in the centre.

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