The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1886-11-30
A REMARKABLE MAP.
An Interesting Specimen of Cartog-
raphy of the Era of Christopher
Columbus.


Columbus.
The struggles of geography in the
middle ages were so far successful in
LAYING the basis of modern scientific
discovery that their results are even
now admitted as evidence in the settle
ment of disputed questions; notable
instance of which fact is afforded by
the second Borgan or Ribero map, re-
Gently brought into consultation with
view to determining international
rights of possession in the Caroline is
lands. This remarkable specimen of
photography is the beautiful work OF
Don ID ego Ribero, of Seville, geogra-
pher to Charles V. According to ira
dition 1t was commenced about 1874,
or from that date to 1903, and was not
finished until 1929, the retardation of
the work being justified by the active
prosecution of geographical research
at that time, and the desire TO include
all the latest discoveries. Ii is reputed
TO be the earliest map of the world in
existence, for the first Borgian map
does not pretend to completeness.
Though full of the old absurd inaccura-
ccs, it contains many shrewd guesses.
or something more than guesses, at
truth. and is especially remarkable as
proving that central African explora-
ton had been conducted TO a stage OF
scientific discovery which modern ge-
ographcrs are hardly. disposed to con-
cede as the achievement of travellers
three or four hundred years ago. The
sources of the Nile and positions of the
three lakes now called Albert Nyanza,
Victoria Nyanza and Alexandra Nyan-
~. have been very definitely. though
not accurately laid down. They are
placed too much on the straight line
from west to east, their size is too nearly
equal. and their form is T. dculous
guess work. Moreover, they lie too far
south Of the trop.c OF Capricorn,
but their presence on the map
is, at least, sufficient tes-
timony to the knowledge of their en-
is,ence at the time when r hero did his
work. Considering, too, that the west
ern continent had only just been DIS
covered, the whole eastern line OF
coast comes at least rs near exactness
rs if promising child of 10 had
drawn it on his slate from memory of
the school map. All the western
shores of North and South America
have been left underlined, and even in
great part unsuggested. Like the
earlier maps of imperfectly explored
countries, such, for example. as those
which are supposed 10 illustrate the
travels of Marco Polo, Sir John de
Vaudeville, and others, this map, by
Diego Ribero, is largely pictorial. The
Spaniard's rule evidently was, when
in doubt, to draw n stag. an elephant,
lion. bear, or tree. Prester John S
dominion is symbolically indicated by a
large church in its midst. Russia is in
a state of most admired disorder, the
lack of geographical dciinit on being,
however, compensated by n plenitudc
of zoology. The Holy land is likewise
much confused and Jerusalem, indi-
Gated by three crosses which obviously
denote Calvary, is placed about fifteen
hundred miles out of true reckoning.
"A country found by. the English. and
of no use" TO wit, Labrador-is plac-
ed right up at the top of the map. far
away from its proper longitude as well
as latitude, and is signalized by pro-
digious growth of forest trees. Gal
Icons in full sail, each MS large as a con-
t,nent. hold their steady course either
TO or from Molucca, the maritime cen
ter, accord ng to medieval geograp-
hers, of the world.
This extraordinary map, which Will
repay an hours attentive observation,
has. by the liberal permission of the
pope. been lent from the archives OF
the propaganda at Rome to the Colo
NAL and Indian exhibition. Sir Angus
tus Adderley. X. c. NJ. e.. the royal
and executive commissioner for the
West Indies and British Honduras, has
also received on loan from the con-
gregation Of propaganda at Rome a
small statistical atlas and an engraving
of the celebrated brass map of Marco
Polo. the original of which is included
in the magnificent representative of his
famous family. Curious and ancient
maps. rare engravings. work OF art,
antiquities, and other interesting OBJ
iects richly illustrate West Indian his
tory at the colonial exhibition, having
been lent in great numbera But I'M