Lascars Collection

The Combined Fleet in China - transports in Cowloong Bay preparing to get under way for... 1860. Creator: Unknown
The Combined Fleet in China - transports in Cowloong Bay preparing to get under way for the north - from a sketch by our special artist at Hong-Kong, 1860. British warships at anchor

The Manning of Armed Cruisers, Lascars at Work on the P and O Steamer "Himalaya"
1048098 The Manning of Armed Cruisers, Lascars at Work on the P and O Steamer " Himalaya", One of the Vessels selected under the Admiralty Scheme (engraving) by Hartrick

Lascars on British Ships: The Question of their Retention. " Human Salamanders" :The Lascar at Work and Play. Employed on board P&O Australian Line liners - working as Coal Stokers

The Lascars Wrangling (engraving)
2780998 The Lascars Wrangling (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Lascars Wrangling. Illustration for Chatterbox (1889).); © Look and Learn

On the Way to India (engraving)
1049376 On the Way to India (engraving) by Nash, Joseph (d.1922); Private Collection; (add.info.: On the Way to India. Illustration for The Graphic)

On the Way to India, Aden and the Red Sea (engraving)
1049449 On the Way to India, Aden and the Red Sea (engraving) by Nash, Joseph (d.1922); Private Collection; (add.info.: On the Way to India, Aden and the Red Sea)

Life on Board a P and O Liner, the Roll Call on Sunday Morning (litho)
1051457 Life on Board a P and O Liner, the Roll Call on Sunday Morning (litho) by Hatherell, William (1855-1928) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Life on Board a P and O Liner)

Sketches by an Officer on the Way to Gibraltar (engraving)
1053082 Sketches by an Officer on the Way to Gibraltar (engraving) by Ralston, William (1848-1911) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Sketches by an Officer on the Way to Gibraltar)

Lascars on British ships: the question of their retention, 1906. Human salamanders: the lascar at work and play. The Illustrated London News says that lascars (sailors from south and southeast Asia)

On the Way to India, Southampton, Uk, 1876: 1
ON THE WAY TO INDIA, SOUTHAMPTON, UK, 1876: 1. Foreign Labour: Lascars Heaving the Chain Cable. 2. Getting the Mail Bags on Board the Deccan

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Lascars were sailors of Indian or Southeast Asian descent who worked on European ships during the colonial era. These skilled seafarers played a crucial role in navigating the treacherous waters of the high seas, often serving as cooks, stewards, and deckhands. Despite facing discrimination and harsh working conditions, they were known for their resilience and adaptability. Their cultural influence could be seen in the diverse cuisine, language, and music that they brought to port cities around the world. Today, their legacy lives on in stories passed down through generations and in the shared history of maritime trade between East and West. The term "lascar" may have originated from the Persian word "lashkar," meaning army or camp follower, reflecting their integral role in supporting European naval expeditions. In an age of exploration and conquest, lascars bridged continents and cultures through their labor at sea.