An informal group photograph of five sailors from the survey ship HMS Waterwitch (1893) ashore at Lin Tin, near Canton River. All are looking at the camera. The sailors are in dark sailor's suits, white shirts with lanyards, wearing straw hats. Each has adopted a slightly different pose, from left to right: sitting cross legged with bare feet, standing hands on hips, bearded sitting on a rock with arms folded smoking a pipe, sitting on the rock, sitting on the ground.

In front of them is a small wooden water keg, iron kettle, plates, mugs and a bottle. Behind them in long grass, next to a wooden fence, two Chinese boys, one in a straw hat, look on from their position sitting on a large boulder.

The original negative envelope was labelled: 'Sailors from Waterwitch, 19.12.1900' and the contact print: 'Surveying party, Lin Tin 19.12.00'.