A waterfall in the East Indies

Havell joined Amherst's abortive mission to China in 1816 and quit the expedition after Amherst was dismissed for refusing to kowtow to the emperor. He later rejoined Amherst's Alceste in Macao in January 1817. After the ship was wrecked in the Java Sea on 18 February 1817, he took passage on the Lyra (Captain Basil Hall) and travelled on to India via Penang, before arriving in Calcutta on 4 April. There are Penang subjects by Havell, including the "Waterfall at Penang" (for which see L.C. Keat, Penang Views 1770-1860, Singapore, 1986, pls 66-68). The present view, not of Penang, may be a subject taken in or inspired by the scenery of west Java. For the shipwreck of the Alceste and the landfall of the officers and crew on Java, see lot 507.

We are grateful to Dr John Bastin for his comments regarding the identification of the present subject.