| It is possible that this native constable was a member of another corps such as the Natal Water Police - a port and harbor customs enforcement corps in Natal. Uniforms as worn by all of the above police units were very similar although period photographic examples tend to show members of the Water Police and possibly Natal Police wearing an oval metal identification badge on their left sleeve. In none of the other images that I have examined do any native constables wear anything close to the beautiful necklace that this man wears. Appearing quite valuable and implying a certain status to the wearer, he probably wore the necklace specifically to look his best for the photographic session. Cabinet Photograph William Laws Caney - Photographer West Street, D'Urban, Natal, South Africa c. 1890 |
