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This late 19th century map of Southeast Asia shows the best maritime routes around the region, according to the time of year. There are also inset maps highlighting the rivers and southern islands of Singapore, and the sea depth around Labuan Island.

This late 19th century map of Southeast Asia shows the best maritime routes around the region, according to the time of year. There is also an inset map highlighting the rivers and southern islands of Singapore.

An early 19th century map of Singapore’s southern coast and islands, with bathymetry (sea depth), shoals and reefs, anchor points, and notes to aid navigation. The roads and main buildings of Singapore city are also shown.

The location, size, and population (by ethnicity) of Pinang, Malacca and Singapore—the Straits Settlements—are listed, along with how/when they were acquired by Britain. The distances from Canton (China) to those cities, and to India, are also noted.

This late 19th century map of Southeast Asia shows the best maritime routes around the region, according to the time of year. There is also an inset map highlighting the rivers and southern islands of Singapore.

Published by the English cartographer John Cary (c.1754–1835), this map is marked with the routes taken from Europe to Asia by the British Royal Navy captains James Cook, John Gore, and George Vancouver, as well as the French explorer Lapérouse.

Maps like this aided navigation through the islands, shoals and reefs of Singapore and the Malacca Strait. Three routes around Singapore are shown, numbers on the sea indicate water depth, and the profile views of mountains were used as landmarks.

This map features maritime routes: between Siam and Batavia; and five routes of the explorers Juan Gaetan and Olivier du Nord (dated 1542) east of the Philippines. The cartouche has a colourful illustration of Asian people in traditional costume.

From Robert Morden’s ‘Geography Rectified’, a description with maps of the known world in the late 17th century. Text describes the peoples of the uplands of the Sunda Islands as ‘Pagans’, while the coastal peoples are ‘Mahumetans [Muslims]’.

This map shows the route of the first Dutch expedition to Southeast Asia in 1595-7. Led by Cornelis de Houtman, it was an attempt to enter the spice trade. The route crosses east over the Indian Ocean, circles the island of Java, and returns west.