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This colourful map of Asia has an elaborate cartouche featuring two Asian men talking—one carries a bow, the other smokes a long pipe—while a lion sits nearby. The scale is also illustrated, with drawings of Asian birds.

This colourful map of Asia has an elaborate cartouche featuring two Asian men talking—one carries a bow, the other smokes a long pipe—while a lion sits nearby. The scale is also illustrated, with drawings of Asian birds.

This map's cartouche features an illustration of three men bowing before a ruler on a throne. There is also what was probably meant to be a lion, though the poor likeness suggests it was based on written descriptions rather than real life experience.

This map's cartouche features an illustration of three men bowing before a ruler on a throne. There is also what was probably meant to be a lion, though the poor likeness suggests it was based on written descriptions rather than real life experience.

This map's cartouche features an illustration of three men bowing before a ruler on a throne. There is also what was probably meant to be a lion, though the poor likeness suggests it was based on written descriptions rather than real life experience.

This map's cartouche features an illustration of three men bowing before a ruler on a throne. There is also what was probably meant to be a lion, though the poor likeness suggests it was based on written descriptions rather than real life experience.

The cartouche on this mid-17th century map of Asia by the Dutch cartographer Frederik de Wit (c. 1629–1706) is decorated with drawings of Asian men dressed in traditional costume and carrying bows.

The cartouche on this mid-17th century map of Asia by the Dutch cartographer Frederik de Wit (c. 1629–1706) is decorated with drawings of Asian men dressed in traditional costume and carrying bows.

The cartouche on this mid-17th century map of Asia by the Dutch cartographer Frederik de Wit (c. 1629–1706) is decorated with drawings of Asian men dressed in traditional costume and carrying bows.

The cartouche on this mid-17th century map of Asia by the Dutch cartographer Frederik de Wit (c. 1629–1706) is decorated with drawings of Asian men dressed in traditional costume and carrying bows.

Early Latin map of Asia, with some inaccuracies: only a small part of Java (labelled ‘Iava Major’) is shown, the shape of Celebes (Sulawesi) is much simplified, and New Guinea is enlarged and distorted.

Early Latin map of Asia, with some inaccuracies: only a small part of Java (labelled ‘Iava Major’) is shown, the shape of Celebes (Sulawesi) is much simplified, and New Guinea is enlarged and distorted.