Indigenous tribal people, Chamba, ca.1900

"Hill People, India". Group portrait of indigenous tribal people wearing traditional dress. They are dressed for the cold and the background landscape is steep and rocky. They could possibly be representatives of the Pangwal tribe from the Pangi Valley as the women traditionally wear red caps, like a Scotch bonnet, and the men wear white skull caps with the brims turned up. The Pangi Valley lies in the north of Chamba and was known as the ‘Prison House of Chamba’ because criminals were transported there as the extreme winter weather made it nearly impossible to escape. ❧ The Chamba mission was established, in 1863, by William Ferguson (1821-1904) as an independent venture after the committee of the India Mission turned down his offer of work. When Ferguson retired he handed the mission over to the Church of Scotland. Dr Hutchison took over the running of the Chamba district, in 1873, from William Ferguson and remained there until his death in 1936. Medico-evangelistic work was undertaken amongst the Himalayan slopes and the missionary parties would endure extreme conditions to spread the Christian gospels and provide medical treatments. ❧ Chamba was an independent princely state and came under British influence in 1848. It now forms part of Himachal Pradesh.