The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1888-08-17
An Interesting Old Map.
from the Montreal Gazcttc.

IEuNi lllc MOuIrcut N1Zcute.
On the wall of Mrs.. G. Stevcnson'e
office, in hiscity, is hunga fac simiIe
of what is known as the second
Borgian map, which is of great his.
torical value. The original, by Diego
Rilcro, is in the museum of the pro.
paganda in Rome. This relic of the
curly ages of American discovery is q
contemporary copy of the first
l'orgian map, SO celebrated i'll his.
tory on account of the line traced
across it by Pope Alexander vi, 1t
must have been commenced about
149l and finished 1929, possibly for
Charles V. in order to settle some
difficulties with the Portuguese in
relation to the frcquently-vcxed qucs.
tion ofposscssion of the newly-dis-
covered lands. The late Mr.. Shake.
slcalr Wood, agrcat authority on
nll questions of this nature, was of
the opinion that it was commenced
under Julius IL (,lcil;l roycrc), whose
tinrl and arms, the oak, or rovcre,
are displayed at the bottom of tlrs
map.
This would fix the date of the draw.
ing at 1903. But thcreare evidences
ofi's helm" ofcv earlier date, for
i'll all that concerns Europe, Africa
and Asia. this map is identical with
llfi tirsf V.I,t.k, -
in 1l9l, 1t bears an inscription in
Spanish which commences along the
upper margin of the parchment, and
runs AIS follows: "l'niycrsnl map, in
which is contained all that has
been hitherto discovered of
he world. Made by Diego Ribero.
gc".rap|rrr to his Majesty in Seville
1919, and dcontin,csn along tlc;owcr
margin as follows: (which is divided
into twopartsaccordingto tlcagrc.
lnrnt made by their Catholic Males.
lies of Spain and King John of Portu-
gal in Fontcsilln, \. d. 1904" At
NTH" foot of tllc map are richly-illu-
mated coats of arms. The continents
and islands are covered with quaint
representations of animals supposed
to be nntive To them; the seas are
crowded with Spanish ships sailing
in all directions. At one corner is a
drawing of Il quadrant. With ancx.
nla1nti"n how to use it, and on the
space followed by the Pacific Ocean
an nstlolill" with IL silk chord at
tnc'rd to the center. The line OF
division mndc hy alexander vi IL
drawn exuctcly rs OH his map, with
the addition thnt on each side oft
is flagstaff, that on the west carry.
ing thc Spanish flag, and that on the
east The Portuguese.
Altogether this mnp has the an.
pcarance of bcip" to that Of !Alex,,n-
der VI whats f,,irly cngrossed copy
OF II legal document would he to the
original draft towllich additions and
intcrlineations hud been made. 1t
suggests, however, some interesting
subjects for inquiry which can only
be solved by reference to papcs ii,
The vatican archives of the rr..scsta ot
Alexander vi, and his imlncliutesuc-
rcssors toClemcnt VII, in whose time
this map dated. 1T is curious that
while Diego Rilcro's map bears the
date of 1920, when Clement VII oc-
cnp!cd the papal throne, us already
intlmntrd, the pentifical arms and
tiara which adorn it in the middle of
Others ut the foot should bc those of
Julius II. who was elected in 1903 to
succeed Plus Iii, in the same year in
which Alexander VI died. julius ii
died in 1913. The drawing through
out is cNquisitcly careful and clear.
In the four corners winds are repro.
srntc1 blowing their cheeks, and the
qlAdrants, coats Of arms, &C., are
richly illuminated. England figures
as divided from Scotland either by "a
river or branch of the sea, and E,iin-
bul"ll is called Elin. The principal
towns in England are called Bristol,
York, and l.ondlrs. The Irish towns
are written Celtic. The chief Euro
pran towns are named, but Russia is
IN IL state of great confusion. Jcru-
salem, which is represented about
] 900 miles distant from where it
really exists, has three crosses to i'll
dicate Cavalry. The Nile, strange to
relate, is traced to its source to three
lakes. America is IL rather sllulOwy
continent, much mixed upwitll ocean.
inc;ltnn and New Spain are given,
and Brazil is also indicated. The
nurthcrncontincnt ends at Labrador.
Hours can easily he spent studying
this unique document.