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.