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The seas of the Dutch East Indies are the focus of this map, with maritime routes, sea temperature, sea depth, currents and monsoons shown. There are graphs of population by ethnicity, agriculture and livestock, trade and shipping, and trade exports.

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.