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Map of Java marked with administrative regions, settlements, roads, mountains and rivers. There is an inset map of the port city of Batavia, with its system of rivers and canals, and its surrounding country with villages, fields and plantations.

Navigation chart of the Sunda Strait, with sea depth, anchor points, shoals and other obstructions. Includes many bays, with four highlighted on inset maps. Partly based on writings of Captain Krusenstern whose 1806 route through the strait is shown.

Navigation chart of the Sunda Strait, with sea depth, anchor points, shoals and other obstructions. Includes many bays, with four highlighted on inset maps. Partly based on writings of Captain Krusenstern whose 1806 route through the strait is shown.

A hand-drawn plan of the wharf at the ‘Haven Kanaal [Harbour Canal]’ port in Batavia (Jakarta), showing warehouses and other buildings along the ‘Groote Rivier [Big River]’ canal. There are two profile drawings of parts of the wharf’s retaining wall.

A plan of Batavia in the early 19th century, with the castle, church, dock yard, timber yard and hospital highlighted on the map’s legend. Also shown is the canal flowing through the city to the port, where the sea depth (‘soundings’) is indicated.

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.

Map focusing on the passage between Penang Island and the mainland, with shoals and reefs marked and described, and bathymetry (sea depth) shown. There are anchor points at George Town harbour, and landmarks—hills, trees, a fort—to aid navigation.

Map focusing on the passage between Penang Island and the mainland, with shoals and reefs marked and described, and bathymetry (sea depth) shown. There are anchor points at George Town harbour, and landmarks—hills, trees, a fort—to aid navigation.

Nautical charts, like this late 18th century example of the north-west coast of Borneo, were designed to help ships navigate. The numbers marked along the coastline and sea routes indicate the depth of the sea (bathymetry).

Maritime routes had to be adjusted in response to the changing monsoon seasons, as is seen on this late 18th century map of the Indian Ocean. Drawings of the heads of children blowing—called ‘wind-heads’—are used to indicate wind direction.

There is a port at the south of this map of the Côn Đảo archipelago (Vietnam), and notes giving details such as a suitable location to careen ships (turning a ship on its side for cleaning or repair). A ruined English fort is also marked.

Map of the Batavia (Jakarta) and Bantam (Bantem) roadsteads (a body of water sheltered from tides/currents, for ships to anchor). Shoals, reefs and bathymetry (sea depth) are marked, with explanatory notes and a rhumbline network to aid navigation.