As first mate aboard an East India Company vessel, James Horsburgh (1762-1836) was shipwrecked in the Indian Ocean in 1786 after faulty charts steered the ship onto a reef. Thereafter he devoted himself to the production of accurate charts of the eastern seas, keeping meticulous notes on extensive voyages, and carefully scrutinising the accounts and journals of other mariners. For his efforts, Horsburgh was elected to the Royal Society in 1806, and appointed hydrographer to the East India Company in 1810. The present work, reissued here in its two-volume first edition of 1809-11, remained a standard navigational reference for half a century (it was aboard the Beagle during Darwin's famous voyage). For given locations, it provides a description of the area and landmarks, and lists prevailing winds and currents, as well as any navigational hazards. Volume 2 covers mainly the seas between India and China, including those around Indonesia and the Philippines.

Book Information
ISBN 9781108077293
Author James Horsburgh
Format Paperback
Page Count 548
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publisher Cambridge University Press
Weight(grams) 1290g