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Plan of the city of Manila, Philippines, showing the streets and buildings—categorised as military, civil or religious—around the Pasig River. Maritime routes are highlighted on inset maps of Manila Bay, the Philippines and the world.

Mountains and rivers are the main land features on this map of the Philippines. Steamship routes from Hong Kong, Singapore and New York arrive at Manila. An inset map of Manila Province shows locations of the Philippine–American War (1899–1902).

Maritime map of the Philippines, with inset maps of bays showing bathymetry (sea depth), shoals, reefs and anchor points. There is also an inset map of Taal Volcano, and elevations (side views of terrestrial landmarks like mountains and islands).

Designed to aid navigation around the western Java Sea, this map features bathymetry (sea depth), current and tide data, and is marked with shoals, reefs and other hazards. Written notes add details at specific locations (e.g. ‘heavy tide rips’).

Based on surveys by Sir Stamford Raffles, this German map of Sumatra focuses on the navigation of coasts and straits, with bathymetry (sea depth), anchor points, shoals and reefs marked, including on inset maps of Singapore and the Bangka Strait.

A navigation map of the Java Sea and Sunda Islands, with bathymetry (sea depth), maritime routes, shoals and reefs, and elevations (side views of terrestrial landmarks). Inset maps feature the bay at Batavia and the straits between the Sunda Islands.

A map to aid in the navigation of the rivers leading to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam). Details include bathymetry (water depth), currents, and a side view (or ‘elevation’) of hills to use as a landmark. Tides are described in written remarks.

This early 19th century hand-drawn map of Manila Bay has detailed instructions in Spanish on how to enter the bay, and the port at Cavite. Bathymetry (water depth), the mouths of rivers, and landmark mountains are shown to aid navigation.

Southeast Asia is on the last sheet of this map of Asia. The South China Sea is labelled ‘Malayan Sea’. Small islands, shoals and reefs are shown. A label in Cochin China (Vietnam) reads ‘mountains inhabited by the uncivilized people called Kemoys’.

On this map, ‘Lago di Chiamay’, one of number of mythical lakes once thought to exist in southern China, feeds five rivers—labelled ‘Menam’, ‘Pegu’ ‘Maraban’, ‘Cosmin’ and ‘Caor’—which flow south through mainland Southeast Asia.

An early map of the island of Borneo, depicting the natural landscape of mountains, forests, rivers and shoals, and also evidence of human habitation with houses representing settlements, and a port and shipping route along the northern coast.

An early map of the island of Borneo, depicting the natural landscape of mountains, forests, rivers and shoals, and also evidence of human habitation with houses representing settlements, and a port and shipping route along the northern coast.