Lot 43: Dr. Edward Hodges Cree R.N. (British, 1814-1901)

The town of Brunei, 1845
signed 'E H Cree' and inscribed 'Town of Bruni or Borneo Proper"
pen and ink and wash
(14 x 21.5 cm. 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 in.)
together with twelve other works by the same hand depicting: The town of Brunei; Entrance to the Borneo river 1845; Brooke's settlement, Kuching 1843; Rayah Brooke's House, Kuching; Mount Kinabalu 1845; two views of the Labuan Islands; A study of a Lizard; Dayak Girls and another. The lot also contains three pencil figure studies of Dyaks by Charles Brooke and photographs and watercolours of Dr & Mrs Cree. All unframed (13).

Provenance:
By direct descent to Angus Cree, grandson of E.H. Cree.
Bequeathed to the current owner.

Dr. E. H. Cree was a surgeon, who served in the Royal Navy from 1837-1869. His service took him across the globe including ten years in the Far East. His diary and many of his watercolours are reproduced in M.Levien, 'The Cree Journals, Exeter, 1981.

Cree visited Brunei and Sarawak on two occasions whilst serving on HMS 'Vixen', August 1843 and August 1845. He records:

Sun 20th August 1843 - "Ran into the Sarawak River".
Mon 21st August 1843 - "We were visited by Mr James Brooke...a most agreeable man".
Thu 7th August 1845 - "..arrived off the Brunei River"
Sat 9th August 1845 - "..proceeded into the Brunei River. Anchored about 6 o'clock in the centre of the town. The Admiral (Sir Thomas Cochrane) landed with Mr Brooke and Capt. Bethune to a conference with the Sultan of Borneo at his house".
Sun 10th August 1845 - "Great diplomatic work going on; messages passing backwards and forward between the Admiral and the Sultan".