Encampment of Native Women, near Cape Jervis (top) and Natives of Encounter Bay

Plate 56: Encampment of Native Women, near Cape Jervis (top) and Natives of Encounter Bay making cord fishing nets in a hut formed by the ribs of a whale (bottom). Part of the text accompanying the top illustration reads \'This sketch was taken in the month of March, which is the close of the hot season; it represents a group of women and children of the Yankallillah tribe, encamped beneath their summer shelter of a few boughs, not far from the sea-coast, a portion of the cliff being visible on the left of the picture\'. The bottom sketch is described as \'The view here represents a part of the Shores of Encounter Bay, with a native hut formed of the ribs of a whale ... the present group consist of a man called Ginnginnana, and his two wives, Kundarkey and Wuddugar...'.

This is one of 60 coloured lithographs found in the 1847 edition of 'South Australia Illustrated' by colonial artist George French Angas, together with a descriptive passage for each. The lithograph was created by J.W. Giles from Angas' original painting. The date assigned is assumed to be approximately when the lithographs were created; the original paintings were done in earlier years.

George French Angas (1822-1886), naturalist and painter, was born on 25 April 1822 at Newcastle upon Tyne, England, fourth child and eldest son of George Fife Angas and his wife Rosetta, née French. George French Angas sailed for Australia in 1843 on the Augustus, arriving in Adelaide in January 1844.

Angas remained in South Australia until July when he left for New Zealand. He returned to South Australia in January 1845 and remained for six months. During these visits to South Australia, Angas travelled with William Giles to the area in the vicinity of the mouth of the River Murray, and with Governor (Sir) George Grey to the south-east of the province, Kangaroo Island and Port Lincoln. Angas recorded these journeys in watercolour drawings which were shown in Adelaide in June 1845 in the Legislative Council chamber.

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