'The Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society. From December 1854 to March 1856. (New Issue.) Edited by the Secretary. Volume XII.' [‎72] (89/258)

Jxxii PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY.
out seems surprising. It is much to be regretted that the unsatisfactory state
of the art of Lithography in Bombay prevents justice being done to delicate
drawings of any description ; and lines, names, and figures, when small or de
licate, are almost sure to be blurted. The lithographed A lithograph is an image reproduced from a printing plate whose image areas attract ink and non-image areas repel it. maps prepared at the
Draughtsman’s office give a very imperfect idea of the original work. At the
establishment of the Chief Engineer the lithography greatly surpasses that of
any other establishment in Bombay, but the work is far short of that executed
both at Calcutta and Madras, and not to be compared for a moment with the
productions of Europe. We have of late years been improving in these res
pects rapidly, and we shall, it is hoped, continue to improve that the climate
is by no means so inimical to the art as was supposed is obvious from the ex
cellence attained by it in other parts of India. Engraving in steel is unknown
to us—on copper the art stops short with a card plate, which costs about five
times the price for which it may be procured in London ; and considering
the economy and expedition with which maps and plans are lithographed A lithograph is an image reproduced from a printing plate whose image areas attract ink and non-image areas repel it. at
home, I should think, when they were at all minute or elaborate it would be
found more profitable to have them executed in Europe than in India. The
Draughtsman’s office is always kept provided by the Court of Directors The London-based directors of the East India Company who dealt with the daily conduct of the Company's affairs. with
supplies of charts for sale at a charge of from 2s. to 6s. and 10s. a sheet, accor
ding to size—a price singularly moderate for London engravings. About fifty
copies of each are sent out at a time, and, according to the return furnished by
Commander Montriou, the following are the charts sent out by the Court be
twixt 1820 and 1849 :—
Coast of Africa
Red Sea
.. 7 #
South-east Coast of Arabia
.. 4
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , &c
.. 21
Sinde, Cutch, and Cambay
.. 26
Bay of Benged
.. 27
Martaban and Tenasserim
.. 13
Straits of Malacca, and China....
.. 38
Indian Ocean
Total 145 Sheets.
or one hundred and forty-five sheets in all. To these must be added thirty-
'eight sheets enumerated in Lieutenant Fergusson’s list, making in all one hun
dred and eighty-three sheets of charts.
The latest sheet of the Great Trigonometrical Survey that has been re
ceived is No. 99 ; but they are not issued at all in the order in which they are
numbered, and earlier numbers have reached, of much later dates—the last
arrival being No. 88 in October 1853 ; Nos 25, 26, and 27 having been sent
cut in March 1854 and May 1852 respectively.
The lithographed A lithograph is an image reproduced from a printing plate whose image areas attract ink and non-image areas repel it. charts and maps are in a great measure compilations for
special use or local convenience, and do not for the most part very materially
extend our knowledge of Geography.
The chart of Lieutenant Taylor is, I presume, that which has been frequent
ly referred to in our discussions regarding the labours of Lieutenant Maury,
and our own track charts for the Eastern Seas,—a wind and current chart for
the Arabian Sea, showing the prevailing currents in the sea and air at different
seasons ol the year,—together with as many surface temperatures as can be
collected. It forms a valuable contribution to our knowledge of the physical