The Morning Call
This engraving is shows depicts a local queen and her entourage receiving British visitors near conical roofed houses and various male onlookers, some of whom are carrying spears. According to Allen, "The king's wife did the very polite thing, by calling on us attended by her handmaidens. . . Her hands and feet were deeply tinged with henna, and her lovely eyes with antimony. Her hair - thickly plastered with indigo - was enveloped in a sort of turban, and a country cloth encircled her waist with many graceful folds" (Allen, p. 16). The location is likely at Idah, the capital of Igala, in the Bight of Benin hinterland. William Allen (1792–1864) was an English naval officer and explorer. He took part in the Niger expedition to map the course of the river.
Image Title
The Morning Call
RegID
SI-OB-857
Date
1840
Title
The Morning Call
Source
William Allen, Picturesque views on the river Niger, sketched during Lander's last visit in 1832-33 (London: John Murray, 1840), facing p. 16.
Language
English
Item sets
Pre-Colonial Africa: Society, Polity, Culture
Spatial Coverage
Africa--Eastern Bight--Idah
Researchers
Jerome Handler; Michael Tuite; Henry B. Lovejoy Graduate Research Assistants: Tiffany Beebe; Travis May
Last Updated
10-Feb-17; 27-Aug-19
Identifier
Allen08