CLIVE FARAHAR Catalogue 60

110. MARSDEN (W. trans.) Memoirs of a Malayan Family Written by Themselves, and translated
from the original by... Oriental Translation Fund, 1830 (ii) + iv + 84 + 4 pp. library stamp on
title and first page, modern buckram, [11326] £500
The narrative was written originally during the years 1756 and 1766 when the Dutch East India
Company were trying to establish a settlement at Samangka near the Straits of Sunda in Sumatra.
Included is the Capture of the English Settlements in Sumatra by the French under the Comte d’Estaing.
111. MAURITIUS. An Account of the Island of Mauritius, and its Dependencies By a Late Official
Resident, By the Author, London, 1842 [iv] + iv + 182 pp. first 4 pages a little foxed. 8vo,
original cloth, slight wear [12597] £650
The anonymous author was appointed a Special Magistrate to the island by Lord Stanley. He gives and
outline of the history of the island, but his description of Port Louis, the principle trading partners of
the island, Customs and Excise practices and the make up of the Governing establishment are good. As
his description of a tour around the island. He reprints the exciting Lloyd, Phillpots, Taylor account of
their amazing ascent of the Pieter Botte.
112. MAURITIUS. A Fine Oil Painting on Copper of “Paul et Virginie”, she with her head on his
shoulder, with a dog seated at their feet, with banana and other palms, a small spring gushing
over of some rocks, c.1820 10 x 8 ins. in remarkably fine condition with original frame,
glazed, [11100] £2,450
Bernadin de Saint-Pierre’s famous work “Paul et Virginie”, first published in Paris in 1787, and first
published in English in 1823, was so popular that it gave rise to a lot of popular art depicting the hero
and heroine. In England Staffordshire figures depicting him giving her a birds nest, and paintings, in
France series of engravings, and small tea plates, depict this romantic & tragic Mauritian couple.
The simple, but sad tale tells of two mothers resorting to the Isle de France ( Mauritius) to bring up
their illegitimate children. The children are brought up together in a wonderful paradise, and later fall
deeply in love. A rich aunt in Paris summons Virginie to see her, and Paul pines for her return, and
after two years he hears of the imminent arrival of her ship the “St. Gerain”. On its arrival near the
north east coast of the island is wrecked. A naked black sailor begs Virginie to strip off her clothes and
allow herself to be saved. However her modesty and newly acquired Parisian mores, make her
determined to perish with honour. Paul is distraught on finding her body on the beach and later dies of
grief. Such was the effect on the European public that they travelled to this Paradise Island to view the
graves of the legendary couple. It was not until the 19th century that the administration of the island
realised the importance of erecting graves as a focus for the tourists. St.Pierre is often credited with
being the first to excite tourists to visit the island.
113. MAURITIUS. Le Breton (L.) “Port - Louis (Ile Maurice)”, F. Appel, Paris, c. 1840 a fine
handcoloured lithograph looking from the Harbour towards the Places des Armes and a single
storey Government House, with the Cathedral Towers and La Pouce in the background, 12½ x
19½ ins. [11669] £2,500
This shows Government House as Mahé de Labourdonnais built it in 1738. There is also a fine paddle
steamer the “Victoria and Albert” and other ships and craft sporting the British Red Ensign.
114. MEADOWS (Thomas Taylor) Desultory Notes on the Government and People of China, and
on the Chinese Language; illustrated with a Sketch of the Province of Kwang-Tûng, shewing
its Division into Departments and Districts, 1847 folding map coloured in outline, 2 folding
tables, one slightly creased, hand coloured costume plates, 8vo, original pictorial cloth gilt,
name on hf. title, recased with original spine laid down, [11670] £600
Meadows studied the Chinese Language in Munich before taking up the post of Interpreter to Her
Majesty’s Consulate in Canton in 1843.
115. NORTHERN INDIA. A Shaman Handpainted Pictogram Scroll, depicting events of a persons
life, 19th C on 12 sheets of paper stitched together, mounted on cloth,128 ins. x 7 ins. on 2
bamboo spools, [12663] £1,200