Steam Vessel Anchored on the Niger River

A photograph depicting a single-masted, steam-powered vessel moored parallel to an earthen riverbank along the Niger River. The vessel features a vertical smokestack emitting a plume of white smoke, a central multi-level superstructure with railings, and a tall mast with rigging lines. On the sloping bank, a group of approximately five to six men wearing minimal clothing, primarily light-colored wraps or loincloths, are engaged in manual labor near the water's edge. The image is part of the Crosse Collection, taken during William Henry Crosse's tenure as Principal Medical Officer for the Royal Niger Company between 1886 and 1895. The background shows a dense treeline and a large canopy tree on the shore, under overcast atmospheric conditions.