Africa with all its States, Kingdoms,
Republics, Regions, Islands etc - Boulton - 1787
Item Y07 - 123 x 102 cms - Price R7,690
Very little is known of Boulton. He was certainly an admirer of D'Anville's work
and this map was based upon D'Anville's Afrique.
In the title cartouche at the top right hand corner, Boulton states that his map is
"Improved and enlarged from D'Anville's map: to
which have been added a particular chart of the Gold Coast, wherein are
distinguished all the European forts and factories, and also a summary
description relative to the trade and natural produce, manners and customs of
the African continent and islands."
You can admire this map without the assistance
of a magnifying glass - but to do so is
to miss out on a large part of the enjoyment that the map offers. At the far
right, below the table of scales, Boulton places an advertisement as follows -
"The inland parts of Africa being but
little known and the Names of the Regions and Countries which fill that vast
Tract of Land being for the Greatest part placed by Conjecture It may be judged
how absurd are the Divisions Traced in some Maps and why they were not followed
in this."
Also, take a closer look at the last entry in the
table of scales - it shows travelling time for a camel caravan!
Within central Southern Africa, you can find a reference to "The Kingdom of Climbera or Mataman - most
geographers place this Kingdom hereabouts but it is Imaginary" Further
North, one can find the Mumbos "who are
Man-eaters"
A large portion of the map to the West of Southern Africa is taken up with a panel
which discusses Caffreria, the Portuguese discovery thereof, Table Hill, Lyons
Hill (this hill being infested with lions when the Dutch settled there) and the
Devils Hill - so named because of the "furious winds which issue from thence, when
the top is cover'd with a white cloud". Further down this panel, Boulton
tabulates the salaries paid to the qualified and unqualified staff of the Cape
government, and extends this information down to a final accounting of the
Revenue, Expenses, Balance and
Profit for the company.
In the "Particular Chart of the Gold Coast", at the top right of the panel,
Boulton makes reference to "Great Plains
Barren and Sandy that spread as far as Juidah & produce nothing but Wild
Coco-trees"- The anecdotes are endless -
all you need is a little time and a magnifying glass.
