Pen, ink and sepia wash drawing, 6" x 13½". Some light foxing, otherwise very good, at present window-mounted, framed and glazed. October, 1867
In the 1868 Indian Army and Civil Service List Baigrie is described as Assistant Quartermaster-General, Bombay Staff Corps. He travelled out to Abyssinia in this capacity as part of Col. Merewether's Reconnoitring Party, surveying the route for the upcoming Expedition. He was to supplement his income by providing campaign sketches for the Illustrated London News. Many of his drawings have inked descriptive captioning on the versoes, the present piece has at some time been cropped and some of the text has been lost, that which remains reads as follows: "... Shabeh is one of the places to land the Expedition - it is situated about two thirds up [-] and 5 miles from "Zoula" or the ancient "Adulis"... "Zoula" is on a level plain partly covered by brush wood & [-] game - Antelope of several kinds, bustard and game fowl abound - in the background and about 12 miles in distance the splendid mountains which rise [-] which the Abyssinian Highlands are reached - some of these mountains attain a height of over 8,000 feet - The Reconnoitring Party landed at this point on the 4th October. At the head of Annesley Bay which is seen in the distance is "Araphate" and their good landing place with abundance of water and which will most probably play a part in the ensuing Campaign. 20th Oct. 67."
A pleasing image of the bay before the harbour works established for the Expedition, a version of which was published in the ILN Nov. 30, 1867 p.588 under the title, "Landing-place of the Reconnoitring Party, near Zoulla, Annesley Bay."
Mayen Wells - Halfway to Senafe. (1867)
