Obscured if Not Hidden: Records Relating to Africa in the National Archives of the Uk (TNA)

In August 1841 twelve little boys boarded the British steam ship Albert. They were sons of the village chief at Aboh on the River Niger. The ship's surgeon, James McWilliam, noted that they were about the same age, and had been circumcised. He added: “many of them had the hair cut close or shaved leaving tufts and lines describing diamonds and other angular figures …” The drawing in figure 1 is by John Duncan, the ship's master at arms. McWilliam describes the chief and his wives - their physical appearances, clothing and ornamentation, commenting in particular on their coral jewellery. He writes about a ceremony marking the signing of a treaty.