This film is part of Free

Kashgar 4

Fascinating footage of Indian customs, shot in 1927 by intrepid plant hunter Major George Sherriff during his tenure as Vice Consul at Kashgar.

Amateur film 1927 14 mins Silent

Overview

Fascinating footage of Indian customs, shot in 1927 by intrepid plant hunter Major George Sherriff during his tenure as Vice Consul at Kashgar. This film shows the burning of captured opium, a Chinese theatrical performance, performance of dance, washing wool, weaving, felt making, waterwheel powering the milling of grain, cantilever bridges, Kashgar’s Apak Hoja Tomb and a game of Buzhaski. Of particular interest is the preparation of wool and the communal making of felt through wetting, rolling and beating the wool. This film offers a fascinating insight into agricultural society.

A long sequence of Chinese theatre/opera at the beginning of the film offers a wonderful insight into the costumes and stylised modes of performance utilised in Chinese theatre.