Occidentalior Tractus Indiarum Orientalium à Promontorio Bonae Spei ad C. Comorin

Description

This portolan-style chart of the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea is oriented with east at the top. It extends from the southern tip of South Africa at the Cape of Good Hope to the southern tip of India at Cape Comorin. The coastal areas of west India, Persia, the Arabian Peninsula and East Africa are mapped with excellent detail. The inlets and waters around Madagascar are clearly defined.

At lower left an elaborate cartouche depicts figures in regional costume and animals, including a water buffalo, a leopard, and a lion. In the famous style that defined Dutch sea charts, ships sail at sea and a naval battle is depicted south of Madagascar.

This map first appeared in de Wit’s Zee Atlas of 1675, which was reprinted in 1715; this is that later edition.

Cartouche: Occidentalior Tractus Indiarum Orientalium à Promontorio Bonae Spei ad C. Comorin. Amstelodami à F. de Wit. [A Drawing (with a Western Perspective) of the East Indies from the Promontory of Good Hope to Cape Comorin]