This carte de visite is one of those photographs that cry out for more of a story, but sadly little more than that already recorded on the image's reverse side will probably ever be known about its subject. Boldly inscribed (possibly in autograph) on the carte's reverse side is the subject's name Paulo Sebastiano de Souza. Beneath is a longer but much fainter pencil notation that reads: "A really good and honest servant. Entered my employ Sept/70 & served with me through Afghan War."

This inscription indicates that de Souza was the personal servant of a British Officer who took part in the Second Anglo-Afghan War.  Unfortunately, the inscribing officer fails to identify himself, an omission that severely limits possible further research into the subject.

 

About all that can be additionally gleaned from the image is from de Souza's name, which would appear to possibly indicate that he had origins in Portugal's Indian enclave of Goa.

 

Carte de Visite
Unknown Photographer
British India
c. 1880s