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Linnaeus Tripe
Photographic apparatus in Burmah
1855, 15 September (diary entry) 1858 (published)
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LL/43195
Captain Henry Yule, A Narrative of the Mission sent by the Governor-General of India to the Court of Ava in 1855, with Notives of the Country, Government, and People, (London: Smith, Elder, and Co., 1858), p.89
September 15th. The King, through the Woondouk, intimated that he was much pleased with the presents, and especially admired the ruby-coloured crystal chandelier. He also wished to know if any one could instruct the Pabe-woon* (Master of the Ordnance), or some of his people, to use the photographic apparatus. Major Phayre explained that it would take a long time for any one to learn, and suggested that a young man should be sent to Calcutta for the purpose.
This photographic apparatus had been introduced among the presents on account of the King's having expressed to Mr. Spears great curiosity on the subject of the "sun-pictures" of which he had heard, and the mode of producing them. A man was afterwards sent occasionally to wait on Capt. Tripe, the able photographer who was attached to the Mission; but the man's desultory attendance, and the difficulty of communication on a subject so involved in niceties and technicalities, left the result of the attempt at instruction nil, as might have been expected.
The Burmese, however, took much interest in the pictures which Capt. Tripe, Mr. Grant, and the sketching members of the Mission produced; and even the photographs, though all remaining in the negative stage, appeared to be understood, and in some degree appreciated by them; whilst they were gratified, and perhaps somewhat surprised, at the interest and admiration expressed by us for many of the buildings which formed the subjects of pictorial representation, especially the highly-carved monasteries.
It was very striking to see this capacity for the appreciation of views and sketches on the part of the Burmans, for the organ of such appreciation is absolutely a wanting in all the people of India, with whom we are accustomed to deal.
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