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This colourful hand-drawn portolan (nautical) chart was designed to aid navigation. It features a rhumbline network (the web of interconnected lines), bathymetry (sea depth), shoals and reefs, anchor points and written notes.

Hand-drawn portolan (nautical) chart, featuring a rhumbline network (the web of interconnected lines), bathymetry (sea depth), shoals and reefs, elevations (side views of landmark mountains), and names of coastal settlements, all to aid navigation.

This 18th century map was designed to aid navigation through the Strait of Malacca between Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula. Shoals, reefs and islands are marked, and the numbers printed on the strait record sea depth (bathymetry).