Whitworth Wallis

Whitworth Wallis was himself a keen photographer, and an enthusiastic and talented participant in amateur dramatics. However, the costume he wears in this photograph is not something he would have worn for amateur dramatics. The clothes are authentic, though something of a hybrid. The beadwork on his shirt is that of a South-Eastern tribe, while the more geometric design of the beadwork on his scabbard is that of a tribe from the area around the Great Lakes. The spear, on the other hand, appears to be Naga, which is a people of North East India. The outfit is most probably composed of pieces that Wallis borrowed from the South Kensington Museum especially for this portrait. The photograph is dated 29 February 1884 on the reverse, at which time he was employed there.

Photographed on 29 February 1884 by Searle Brothers of Brompton Road, London.