Formosan Royalty

Formosan Royalty is a sketch, probably in pencil, by English artist Edward Spratt.

Subject
The sketch shows the four Formosan passengers on the Obra Dinn's last voyage posing for the picture. It-Beng Sia and Bun-Lan Lim are sitting in the middle, with guards Chioh Tan and Hok-Seng Lau standing on either side of them, holding spears.

Conservation
It is unclear exactly when the sketch was drawn or when it passed into the possession of Surgeon Henry Evans, but it must have been drawn before the execution of Hok-Seng Lau. It does not seem to have suffered unduly from Evans' trip to Morocco in an open boat. It is currently in the possession of the East India Company's chief inspector as an insert in a book about the fate of the Obra Dinn.