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Charting The West Coast of India

Extremely rare sea chart, published by the Indian Navy and compiled by Lieutenant Fergusson, Hydrographer of the Indian Navy.

The chart extends from the northern Maldives and Cape Comorin to the coastline west of Karchi, centered on Bombay and Goa.  The map includes soundings and coastal topographical features.\ Includes a large inset showing the Approach to Bombay Harbour.

The chart was advertised extensively in 1856 in English language nautical journals in 1856. The following notice was published in The Nautical Magazine and Naval Chronicle (London, 1856) at p. 112:

We have just received a copy of this very handy little chart, (about two inches to a degree of M. Lat.,) including Cape Comorin and the coast of Scinde. It is contained in two sheets, forming one of a very convenient size, and large enough for a track chart. It appears to be compiled with some care, notwithstanding the Ados Bank off Cape Ramas is omitted, and even a track chart requires some further attention to lights than this has received. Thus the seaman is informed by it that there is a light on Minora Point, Kurrachu, and also one at Bombay; but of their character, whether Fixed or Revolving, he is not informed. The same with that of Goa, and as to those of Mangalore, Calicut, Cochin, &c., they seem to be beneath all notice. We must set all this down, however, along with the poorly graduated scale, to the effects of haste, generally made to save time, mails perhaps; but no one knows better than the hydrographers of Bombay the importance of these matters, and no doubt they will be timely remedied. When they are, this will become a favourite little chart with the navigator.

Rarity

We locate 2 examples (Bayerische Staatsbibliothek and Staatsbibliothek Berlin.