Old Uncle Ned

[Minstrels]. Edward Leigh Carte, Engineer in the Royal Navy (1838-1911). Cartoon sequence set in Africa. No place, c. 1865.
Grotesquely humourous story of three minstrels, setting out "from Assention" with their faithful crocodile "Crock" via the "overland route in Africa". After being severely discomfitured by several wildebeests' "Night Attack in the Jungle", they embark on crocodile-back, sail for the Cape of Africa and are nearly eaten by sharks, but eventually arrive at the Cape (albeit "with the loss of the faithful Crock"). Here they entertain natives with their musical antics before crossing the Zambesi for the continent's interior, escape an "attack of the Crocodiles", capture a rhinoceros (which they ride to the Tune of "I am off to Old Varginie") and battle gorillas, pythons, and monkeys. Half a century later, Dr. Livingstone discovers their bones; "too late to render them any assistance - to the tune of Poor Old Ned". The overt racism of Carte's illustrations (not unusual for the Victorian period), and their strange blending of African and Afro-American stereotypes, indicate a subconscious attempt on his part to master cultural fears through ridicule. - The remainder of the notebook is taken up by a 15-page naval diary of Carte's Royal Navy mission in the Ionian Sea during early 1865, as well as by calculations, technical diagrams and reference tables as would be employed by a naval engineer on a steam ship. A memo concerning the relative powers of ship's captain and engineer points to an insubordinate streak in Carte's character. - E. L. Carte was born at Barton-upon-Humber in Lincolnshire. He was educated in Hamburg and Antwerp until 1853, when he was sent to Scotland to learn the engineering trade. His first experience of the sea was on a ship belonging to his uncle, Joseph Gee of Hull. In 1861, following Gee's death, Carte entered the Royal Navy as Assistant Engineer. He was promoted to the rank of Engineer in 1868. During his career Carte served on at least 15 ships, including the HMS Bristol (1867), HMS Greyhound (1867-69), HMS Mersey (1869-70, at Queenstown) and HMS Iron Duke (1871-74, during which time he was the engineer responsible for commissioning the engines), and HMS Ready (1878-82), with deployments off West Africa and South America and in the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean. He was placed on the retired list in 1888. Carte married Sarah (Sally) Flunder of Sheerness on 3 June 1863 at Minster Sheppey, Kent, and had four children. He died at Southampton on 23 June 1911.

Twelve curious illustrations depicting the adventures of a "nigger minstrel" troupe ("the Ebonys") in Africa, in a sketchbook also containing the journal of a tour of duty in the Ionian Sea during the year 1865.

[SW: Kultur- und Sittengeschichte]

Details