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This late 19th century map of Southeast Asia shows the best maritime routes around the region, according to the time of year. There are also inset maps highlighting the rivers and southern islands of Singapore, and the sea depth around Labuan Island.

This late 19th century map of Southeast Asia shows the best maritime routes around the region, according to the time of year. There is also an inset map highlighting the rivers and southern islands of Singapore.

The colonial possessions of Britain (in red, though faded on this map), the Netherlands (green, but discoloured to blue) and Spain (the Philippines, brown) are shown on this map, with independent areas such as Borneo and the Maluku Islands in yellow.

The various regions of Southeast Asia are marked in different colours on this mid-19th century map. For example, on the mainland, the Birman Empire (Myanmar) is in yellow, with Siam (Thailand) in blue, and Anam (Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos) in green.

This late 19th century map of Southeast Asia shows the best maritime routes around the region, according to the time of year. There is also an inset map highlighting the rivers and southern islands of Singapore.

An early 19th century map, with the regions of Southeast Asia marked with different colours. Interestingly, Cambodia and modern Vietnam (labelled here as Cochinchina and Tonkin) are grouped with China.

Published by the English cartographer John Cary (c.1754–1835), this colourful map of Southeast Asia includes a label naming the inhabitants of central Borneo as 'BIAYOS or the inland People'.

An early 19th century map of Asia by the English cartographer John Cary (c.1754–1835) with colour-coded regions.

Labels on this late 18th century map of Southeast Asia describe two indigenous populations—the ‘Kemoy’ of the mountains along the border of Cochin China (Vietnam) and Camboja (Cambodia), and the ‘Biayos’ of central Borneo—as ‘a wild Nation’.

Longitude is indicated in two different ways on this mid-18th century map: along the top border, it is shown in degrees (number of degrees east of London); more unusually, along the bottom border, it is shown in time (number of hours east of London).

This map is illustrated with drawings of Asian people wearing traditional clothing, including representatives of Sumatra, Java and the Maluku Islands. There are also drawings of important ports such as Bantam (Banten) at the western end of Java.