royal executioner, rehwah india, 1903

Rewa (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki... ) was a Central India principality, then part of the 'Rajputana Agency' (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki...) in what would eventually become Madhya Pradesh. This picture is by the Bourne & Shepherd studio (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki...), was apparently taken in Bombay/Mumbai, and appears in at least one 1902 work, so must be earlier than 1903.

No hugging, no begging for mercy.

seen some shit

dress for the job you want

I like all that armor with bare feet.

He was the punkest motherfucker I ever did see

I’d check if the sword was well sharpened. (But would have preferred not having to be in a position that required it.)