Group of Fakirs, 1880 (c)
Photograph by Benjamin Simpson (1831-1923), 2nd Afghan War (1878-1880), 1880 (c).
The term fakir was used by the British to describe a whole variety of South Asian Hindu and Moslem ascetics such as sadhus, gurus and Sufi mystics. It was also used to describe street entertainers who performed feats of magic and endurance such as walking on hot coals or lying on a bed of nails.
From an album of 34 photographs.
NAM Accession Number
NAM. 1951-01-43-9
Copyright/Ownership
National Army Museum, Out of Copyright
Location
National Army Museum, Study collection
Object URL
https://collection.nam.ac.uk/detail.php?acc=1951-01-43-9