Offering the best route through the eastern islands of the Indonesian archipelago towards China
By HORSBURGH, James , 1824
£750
BUY

Eastern Passages to China. Sheet I.

Asia Southeast Asia
  • Author: HORSBURGH, James
  • Publication place: London,
  • Publisher: Published by James Horsburgh Hydrographer to the Hon.ble E.I. Comp.y
  • Publication date: 1 May 1824.
  • Physical description: Engraved chart.
  • Dimensions: 650 by 985mm. (25.5 by 38.75 inches).
  • Inventory reference: 17537

Notes

First publication of this large-scale and detailed chart of the islands of the eastern Indonesian archipelago, which offers the best routes through the islands towards China, depending on the season. With: insets 'Sketch of Bally Strait', 'Sketch of Lombock Strait', 'Plan of the Alass Strait from observations made by James Horsburgh in 1796', 'Sketch of the Sapy Strait'; coastal profiles, and extensive depth soundings.
Horsburgh is quick to thank his colleagues in the East India Company for their "valuable assistance afforded by their journals in the construction of this chart", in his dedication, but to also emphasize his own input, and the chart's shortcomings, which he outlines in his "Explanatory Remarks – The Only Parts comprehended in this chart that have been Regularly Surveyed, are the North Coast of Java, and the shoals in the Carimata Passage. – The Western side of the Straits of Macassar and Allass are chiefly from my own observations, taken when sailing through these Straits. – The Straits of Salayer and South Part of the Celebes are considered to be tolerably correct. – but many other Places, as Marked on the Chart are, Very Imperfectly Known".


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