ME821 - A Survey of the Persian Gulf

As with many charts of the region at this time the Arabian coast had not been surveyed in any detail. Bahrain is included but Qatar in omitted altogether. Aspects of the chart, especially the many strings of soundings marked on this chart share the same information as the Eatwell (likely author) survey of the same from c1818 (see Heritage Charts ME720). The center-piece of this chart is the Arabian Gulf from the entrance between Muscat, on the Arabian Coast, and Iskin Point, on the Persian Coast, up to Bussorah on the River Euphrates. The inset plans which adorn the map include surveys of the following important ports and islands of the gulf as follows: 'Bussorah', by Lieutenant J. MacCluer and others; 'Muscat & Mutrah' by Lieutenant MacCluer; 'Busheer', by Captain Simmons; 'Carrack & Corgo', from a French manuscript survey and finally, 'Jasques', by M. Hunter. The views are of: 'High Land of Ramus', 'Cape Bang over the island of Corgo', 'Cape Jasques to the Hill below Cape Bumbarrack', by Lieutenant McCluer, 'Carrack Island', 'Nobfleur Island', 'Cape Kenn beyond Cape Verdistan', 'Great and Little Tomb with C. Certes', 'Quoin and Gap Islands', 'High Land to the Eastward of Cape Mucksa', 'Swardy Islands', Muscat Island, Fisherman's Rock and 'Cape Mufseldom'. When studying this chart, questions arise in regard to William Heather's source material. Heather credits the panels and the views to surveyors, but gives no credit to the cartographical and hydrographical sources of the main survey. Of note is the elaborate and stylish cartouche that boldly credits the publisher and implicitly suggests that William Heather was the surveyor, which he was not. Further research may lead to a connection between the work of Bartholomew and other hydrographers of this time. Heather makes reference to use of Persian charts, as does Lt. D. Bartholomew on his surveys of the same region (see charts ME816 and ME720).