A Mohamedan Fakir
John Campbell Oman (1841-1911), author of The Mystics, Ascetics and Saints of India (1903) describes the incident that made him take it upon himself to write this encyclopedic work towards the end of his life.
India
Birth of Shakuntala
Vishvamitra was a revered sage in ancient India; this postcard from one of Ravi Varma's most famous paintings shows how he rejects knowledge of his child by turning away and hiding his gaze with a dramatic gesture.
[Original caption] Menaka sent by
A Group of Lambanis
[Original caption] These folk are gypsies inhabiting the great Deccan of India. Their dress is decorated with shells, their arms are generally adorned with a large number of bracelets made of the bones of deer. [end]
The Banjara people, also
Historic India. Ravages of White Ants. Beams Eaten Out.
[Original caption] Ravages of White Ants: beams eaten out. The insect tribes of India may be said to be innumerable. The heat gives incredible activity to noxious and troublesome insects including Moths and Ants of the most destructive kind.
Vishwamitra-Menaka
[Original caption, verso] Vishwamitra-Menaka :- This scene shows Menaka as tempting the great sage Vishwamitra, who yields to her and gets Shakuntala by her. [end]
Wayfarers
"Wayfarers" was another word for nomads.
[Original caption] Wayfarers. The position of the child in the picture is typical. The man is carrying a larger share of the burden than is usual.
Vishnu Garud-vahan
[Original caption, verso] God Vishnu with his two wives, the goddesses of the earth and the wealth, is represented as riding on his vehicle Garud. [end]
The Garuda, a mythical bird, is also called Kashyapi, Chirada, Vishnuratha, Gaganeshvara,
An Indian Washing Day
One day was often fixed each week or fortnight for washing a complete household's clothes. The concept of a washing day is said to have reflected a family's social status.
Balamoni in Malayali Dress
"At the peak of the Tamil drama movement, she created a sensation like no other actor.
A Village in India
This was a common shot across publishers, usually shot in Bengal, with cows, dwellings, dung patties, a [broken] cart wheel and interestingly in this case, no people. Devare & Co.
