A cabinet card showing a large group of Singalese dancers and performers.

Photographer unidentified. The photograph might have been taken in Ceylon [modern day Sri Lanka] or it’s possible that these performers were taking part in and appearing at one of the world’s fairs held in London in the late nineteenth century. In addition to these expositions, there were also individual promoters who managed shows that moved around Europe. John and Carl Hagenbeck operated the largest of these touring companies but there were many other smaller enterprises too.