Second Matabele War, Zimbabwe: British soldiers climbing down to fetch water from the bottom of a pit. Halftone by André & Sleigh Ld after C.E. Fripp, 1896.

Previous title, replaced May 2023 : Soldiers climbing down to fetch water from the bottom of a pit. Halftone after C. Fripp, 1896.

1896

1 print : process print, halftone ; image 27.9 x 19.6 cm

Campaigning in Rhodesia: thirsty troopers at a native water pit ... C. E. Fripp Sept 96 Mbuchu R. André & Sleigh Ld Lettering continues with text describing the episode: "Our special artist in Rhodesia, in describing the scarcity of water while he was on the march, says in his letter that he sketched the men of the mounted infantry and others waiting their turn to scrape up a little of the water which slowly trickles into the bottom of a pit made in the sandy bed of a stream. Against one side of the excavation the natives had erected a rough staging whereby it was made possible to descend and ascend to and from the very limited amount of water below. During the hot hours of the day, whilst the horses were grazing, this staging was always occupied by thirsty men patiently waiting their turn which was sometimes very slow in coming, because it took several minutes to fill a mess tin. Drawn by our special artist, C. E. Fripp."

Halftone by André & Sleigh Ltd of Bushey, Hertfordshire

Wellcome Collection 23580i