Tribal Gallery

Playing the Rabana drum - Sinhalese - Colombo, Sri Lanka

Playing the Rabana drum - Sinhalese people - Colombo, Sri Lanka. The Maha (big) Rabana or Banku (bench) Rabana, played by two or more people at a time is used at wedding festivals and Sinhala New Year Celebrations in Sri Lanka. It also symbolizes the spring festivals of the country. Generally women are the best players of the Banku Rabana and a special system of Raban Pada is in practice among them. One reads out the beat loudly and plays it in collaboration with others. Some of the onlookers would enjoy the music with dance in order to tune it for better sounds. The Rabana (as can be seen on this card) is kept on three wooden trunks about 18 inches high and the leader kindles fire under the instrument so that it can be tuned for finer sounds. Date: circa 1910s

© Mary Evans / Grenville Collins Postcard Collection

Chad - Cupping - Indigenous medicinal practise

Chad, Central Africa - Cupping - Indigenous medicinal practise. Cupping therapy is an ancient form of alternative medicine in which a local suction is created on the skin; practitioners believe this mobilises blood flow in order to promote healing. Suction is created using heat (fire), mechanical devices or the use of a tube or horn (as shown on this postcard). Date: circa 1930s

© Mary Evans / Grenville Collins Postcard Collection

Last British Troops Leave India

Burmah-Shell Photographic News Service photograph: Last British Troops Leave India.One of two photographs of Somerset Light Infantry, last British troops to leave India, Bombay, 1948. Photograph by Hunnar Ltd, .The Somerset Light Infantry on parade. In the background is the Taj Mahal Hotel. Following the independence of India and Pakistan in August 1947, British Regiments were gradually withdrawn from the subcontinent. This included a well-planned and orderly withdrawal from Waziristan and other tribal regions of the North West Frontier. The last unit to leave India was the 1st Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry (Prince Albert's) which embarked at Bombay on 28 February 1948.
1948

© The National Army Museum / Mary Evans Picture Library