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This map of the border region between China, Birma (Myanmar), Siam (Thailand and Laos) and Anam (Vietnam) is marked with the routes of five expeditions of the region from 1837 to 1868. Locations of Roman Catholic missionaries are also shown.

On this hand-drawn and coloured map of Asia, the colours differentiate the colonial territories of the European powers: for example, New Guinea is divided into Dutch, British and German areas, and Borneo is split between the British and Dutch.

This map of mainland Southeast Asia has colour-coded borders: Burmah (Myanmar) in red, Siam (Thailand) in brown, and Anam (Vietnam) in green. The British territory of Penang is also bordered in red. Independent areas are bordered in grey.

The routes of eight expeditions through Burma (Myanmar) and Siam (Thailand) are shown, with text noting ‘Ancient ruins with sarcophagi, mummies’, ‘bazaar… great variety of European goods’, ‘great thoroughfare for the Chinese trading with the Shans’.

This map shows the border between the British Empire (modern Bangladesh) and Burmah (Myanmar). Although the Burmah part of the map is mostly blank, there is a reference to ‘Shendoos’ (now known as the Lai people).

Map of the Riouw (Riau) Residency, Sumatra. The border between Riau and the island’s west coast is marked in red ‘as far as it is known [voor zoo verre die... bekend is]’, ending abruptly in the unexplored mountains near Lake Toba, northern Sumatra.

A hand drawn map showing mountains, rivers, roads and settlements in the northern part of the Malay Peninsula belonging to Siam (Thailand). This map was copied from one made by the Siamese government in 1870.

A map of proposed trade routes through Burmah (modern Myanmar) intended to connect China to India and Europe. The border between India and Burmah is marked as being ‘unexplored’ and ‘undefined’. A table lists the distances between various cities.

This map of mainland Southeast Asia features short texts noting mines, trade routes and travel times (‘5 to 7 days on Elephants’), history (‘conquered by the King of Siam 1809’), peoples (‘states tributary to the Chinese’) and products (‘Tea Tree’).

Small notes on this map of Burmah (Myanmar) describe mines, crops and products produced, names of local tribes etc. e.g.: ‘a passage to Rangoon in the wet season’, ‘Ship of 400 tons built here’, ‘Alompra’s birth place’, ‘Gold dust in the streams’.

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.

A map of Southeast Asia coloured to indicate the five different language families spoken in the region in the late 19th century. Names of indigenous tribes/languages are marked in red text, with European colonial possessions in grey.