Search

The Lesser Sunda Islands are shown spread over these three late 19th century maps. Each island is divided into local administrative districts, with cities, mountains and routes marked. Shoals, lighthouses and anchor points are shown at the coasts.

Fifty-seven separate maps of bays, roadsteads—a body of water sheltered from tides/currents—and anchor points around the Lesser Sunda Islands. Landmarks, lighthouses, bathymetry (sea depth), shoals, reefs and other obstructions are marked.

Map of central Flores in the Lesser Sunda Islands, with extensive written notes describing the island, e.g. where the first Christians settled; the territories of local rulers; areas where Christians were replaced by Muslims; locations of tin mines.

Map of the eastern half of the Dutch colonial administrative region (residency) of Timor, with an inset map of its capital city and port Timorkoepang (Kupang). (From ‘Algemeene Atlas van Nederlandsche Indie [General Atlas of the Dutch East Indies]’.)

Although this map’s title refers to the south-western islands of the Banda Islands, it actually focuses on the Lesser Sunda Islands, including Flores, Sumba and Timor. The islands feature mountains and jungle, with shoals and reefs around the coasts.

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