ME801 - The Arabian coastline from Kuwait to Oman

Vice Admiral John Knight & Captain Joseph Huddard

h31" x w42"

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The chart is the result of several surveys made by Lieuts. J.M. Guy, G.B. Brucks, R. Cogan & W.E Rogers between 1820 and 1824, which were finally published in five parts (see ME802, ME802a, ME802b, ME802c & ME802d). In 1820 a systematic survey of the region was ordered by the H. E. I. C. to replace earlier, less exact, surveys.

 

Captain P. Maughan was sent to the Gulf in command of the ship 'Discovery' along with Lieutenant J. M. Guy, as his assistant surveyor, in the 'Psyche'. They began their survey at Cape Mussendem (Musandam, Oman). In November 1821 Maughan fell ill and was succeeded by Guy. In 1822 Guy forwarded a report of the coast to the Government. On the 11 February 1823 Guy also succumbed to ill health and was succeeded by Lieutenant G. B. Brucks. Guy's part of the survey was drawn up by Lieutenant Houghton in 1821 and there is a memo on the bottom left of the survey to that effect.

 

By April 1825, Brucks had completed the whole of the western coast. The inscription under the survey title which reads 'Honourable E.I.C's Marine' is a reference to the all-powerful East India Company which traded in commodities such as cotton, silk, indigo dye, salt, pepper, tea, and opium. Although the company had started in the East Indies it had, by the 19th century, assumed effective control over trade in Asia, and India and China in particular. That the Honourable East India Company had its own navy is a measure of its power and influence at the time.

 

One of the most interesting features of this chart relates to the naming of places; an example of this being the 'East India Company Islands' to the west of Abothubbee. This provides an indication of the extent of British interest in this region; and serves as a reminder of the degree of Empirical self-importance. The British did, however, attempt to capture many of the local names; though there were obvious problems translating what they heard into the written word. Some of the given names are recognizable, such as Abothubbee (Abu Dhabi) as are the islands of Dalmy, Zircooa, Seer Beni Yass and Dawse (these islands are labelled as 'Maude's Islands: possibly named after Captain William Maude who had an extinguished naval career, before during and after the Napoleonic War; and is listed as one of the merchants, permitted to trade, in Bombay Marine Documents at this time).

The Arabian coastline from Kuwait to Oman