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Two maps. One features most of the world, but with Borneo, Philippines and most of mainland Southeast Asia missing, though there is an inset map of Penang. The other is a navigation map of the strait at Penang, with bathymetry and elevations.

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.

A late 18th century map of Asia published in London by John Bowles, with regions indicated by colour. Central Borneo is labelled ‘Part inhabited by the Biayos’, which is seen on many contemporary maps, often with the comment ‘a savage people’.

This map of Asia, from an atlas by the German cartographer Karl von Spruner, is colour-coded to show territorial regions in Asia from the 6th to the 9th centuries. Thailand is labelled 'Siang-koue' and Vietnam is 'Tschn-tschin'.

The inset map on this map of India features part of mainland Southeast Asia: Pegu and the Tenasserim Provinces (Myanmar), Siam (Thailand), and the Malay Peninsula (Malaysia), with the Straits Settlements—Singapore, Malacca, Penang—highlighted in red.

The inset map on this map of India features part of mainland Southeast Asia, with the British colonial territories—Straits Settlements, British Burma—highlighted in red, ‘protected states’ in yellow, and ‘independent states’ in green.

Map of the Birman Empire and Assam (modern Myanmar) with detailed text describing the region’s geography, culture, population, religion, government and history. There is an inset map highlighting Burmese islands off the coast of the Malay Peninsula.

Map of the Birman Empire and Assam (modern Myanmar) with detailed text describing the region’s geography, culture, population, religion, government and history. There is an inset map highlighting Burmese islands off the coast of the Malay Peninsula.

On this map of Sumatra, the west coast mountain ranges contrast with the rivers to the east. An inset map of Singapore focuses on jungles along the coasts, and features bathymetry (sea depth) around the south coast and along the Singapore Strait.

Map of the Strait of Malacca, with inset maps of a central part of the strait and of the Singapore Strait. Bathymetry (sea depth), shoals and reefs are marked, and there are elevations (side views of hills and mountains to use as landmarks).

A French map of the Asian colonial possessions of the Netherlands (Dutch East Indies), with an inset map of the island of Java. Colonies of Britain (Malay Peninsula), Spain (the Philippines) and Portugal (parts of Floris and Timor) are also marked.

A French map of the Asian colonial possessions of the Netherlands (Dutch East Indies), with an inset map of the island of Java. Colonies of Britain (Malay Peninsula), Spain (the Philippines) and Portugal (parts of Floris and Timor) are also marked.