A View of Peshawar Fur market Showing Fur Bales Loaded on Carts for Export to Foreign Countries

A View of Peshawar Fur market Showing Fur Bales Loaded on Carts for Export to Foreign Countries

c. 1920
Publisher No.: 
7
13.95x
8.80cm

One of those postcards that highlights the complex trade relationships between the Raj and Afghanistan, if not Central Asia. Beneath the storefront of Mull Chand & Sons "Art and Curios" from India and Afghanistan bales of fur on bullock carts are awaiting dispatch. Perhaps Mr. Mull Chand in tie is standing between two Europeans in solar topis. One has his arms crossed, another an arm on his waist, next to him could be Mr. Mull Chand junior. A third European possibly is on the other side of the photograph in shorts, perhaps a policeman or army private. The carts are overloaded, and would have required significant protection to move across the Khyber Pass, usually alongside other caravans, and the bales of fur would probably have been put on camels for speedier crossing. The large retinue of men collected about the carts reflect the enormous labour required for such an enterprise; even in the verandah on the second storey two men in ties are barely visible to the right of the sign.