John Falconer, British Library A Biographical Dictionary of 19th Century Photographers in South and South-East Asia | Amateur, India
Revenue Survey Department
In relation to archaeological work at the ‘Seven Pagodas’, the Madras Proceedings record that:
It has, however, appeared to the Governor in Council that, with Mr Chisholm’s engagements, it would hardlty be possible for him to give the necessary time to make accurate archiotectural drawing of the many temples and monoliths at the ‘Seven Pagodas,’ and that the drawings would be comparatively valueless without accurate survey of the site, while the aid of photography under careful supervision might produce accurate records according to scale of the whole details capable of ready multiplication or of being copied in etching at leisure.
The Government accordingly requested Major Sargeaunt, of the Revenue Survey Department, to visit the site, which he did during the holidays. He considers that there would be no difficulty in obtaining by photograph full details to scale of all the temples and monoliths; that the survey would probably occupy a month including such levelling as will be necessary to show the contour of the site and the elevations of the different points; that it would cost 250 or 260 Rupees; that he has at the moment disengaged a competent Surveyor who was going on to the Kistna, but who could be detained to do this.
The matter will accordingly be placed in Major Sargeaunt’s hands; he is authorized to incur an expense not exceeding about 300 Rupees for the purpose.
This survey should be a necessary preliminary to any photographing. If the Surveyor did this work well under the guidance of Major Sargeaunt, he might then be useful for the same process at Bezwada and Hampi, at both of which places like work is desirable.[1]
Footnotes
- Λ Madras Government Proceeding, Public Department, 18 February 1878, no. 89, IOR/P/1221, p. 119.
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