Description:
Map with a cartouche on the right top inscribed, "CARTE/DE L'ENTREE DE LA/ RIVIERE DE CANTON/ Dressee sur led Observations/ les plus recentes./ Par N. B. Ingr ord.re de la Marine/ Echelle/ Lieues Marines de France et d'Angleterre", and "Tom.V. No. 16." (Tome or Book 5, No. 16) in lower right corner, drawn by Jacques Nicolas Bellin (1703-1772). The map details the waterway or estuary leading from Macao to Canton (Guangzhou) along the Canton River, which was also known as the Pearl River. At the bottom of the page is the Island of Macao with its settlement shown on the pennisula and off shore anchorages depicted by anchor symbols. "I. Lintem" or Lintin Island (which was to become the center of opium smuggling in the early 19th century) is in the center of the entrance, and Sinn-gan-hien, present day Hong Kong, is to the left. There is a ship channel from the entrance to Canton detailing the depth of the river and the shoals, as well as marking fortresses. Following upstream the channel are the islands of Grande Isle du Tigre and the Boche du Tigre (also known as Boca Tigris or Tiger's Mouth) and "Wampow" or Whampoa Anchorage, where merchant shipped were required to drop anchor (only smaller vessels could voyage the remaining length of the river to Canton). At the top of the river is 'Quang-Tchew-Fu Vulg. Canton' or the City of Canton, depicted as a fortified city divided between the V. des Chinois (City of Chinese) and the Ville des Tartares (City of the Tartars). According to the rules of trade, Westerners could not enter the city of Canton, but were confined to a 12-acre section in the western suburbs along the river where the foreign factories housed the Western merchants while they remained in Canton. These small, narrow structures, located about 300 feet from the water, also functioned as places to conduct business.
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https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+2003.29 |
