__________________________

BULLETIN OF THE
BURMA
STUDIES GROUP
__________________________

Map entitled "India quae Orientalis dicitur, et Insulae adiacentes,"

by Willem Janszoon Blaeu, 1640.

Number 71 March 2003

 Bulletin of the Burma Studies Group
Southeast Asia Council
Association for Asian Studies
Number 71, March 2003

Editor
Ward Keeler
Department of Anthropology
University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX 78712
email: ward.keeler@mail.utexas.edu

Assistant Editor
Jason Carbine CONTENTS
University of Chicago Divinity School ________________________
email: jacarbin@midway.uchicago.edu

Book Review Editor

Introduction 2
Leedom Lefferts
Department of Anthropology
Burmese Short Stories in 2
Drew University
English Translation
Madison, NJ 07940-4000
email: lleffert@drew.edu
Burmese Music Recordings 5
Old and New
Subscription Manager
Catherine Raymond
Recollections and Suggestions for 6
The Center for Burma Studies
Scholarship on Burma
Northern Illinois University
DeKalb, IL 60115-2854
A Burmese Film 7
office: (815)753-0512
fax: (815)753-1776
Maps of Burma by European 11
email: craymond@niu.edu
Cartographers in NIU‘s Special
web: www.grad.niu.edu/burma
Collections
Subscriptions
Bibliography of Maps of Burma 17
Individuals and Institutions: $25
(Includes Journal of Burma Studies)
Send checks, payable to The Center for
Burma Studies, or email Beth Bjorneby
at bbjorn@niu.edu (Visa and Mastercard
accepted only).

Next Issue
September 2003
(Submissions due August 1, 2003)
________________________ Happy though I—like many an editor—
might be to fill issues with my stray
thoughts and ruminations, that would hardly
Introduction advance the purpose this Bulletin can best
serve: to keep us all in touch with each
________________________ other. Please let us know what you‘re up to.
Just because we‘re far-flung and not all that
numerous doesn‘t mean we can‘t be in lively
The Gothenburg Glow continues to warm
and fruitful communication. The Editor
my heart and no doubt that of many other
Burmanists lucky enough to have made it
there. But to take full advantage of the ________________________
excitement that event generated, we have to
keep each other abreast of what we‘re up to
and thinking about. I have solicited-- Burmese Short Stories in
informally and even haphazardly-- English Translation
contributions from fellow Burmanists for
this issue of the Bulletin. I‘m grateful to ________________________
those individuals who have come through
with the materials readers will find in the
I have found in my undergraduate teaching
following pages. (To those who declined
that students respond much more
with polite assurances that they would be
enthusiastically to reading fiction and
willing in future, I give fair warning that I
memoirs than to reading most of what
will be persistent.) But I would like to
anthropologists or historians write. This
encourage anyone who reads this issue to
does not bode well for the future of the
think about what they might contribute to
social sciences, but it puts me on the look-
the next and/or later issues. Alerting readers
out for good reading from Southeast Asia
to materials you have published is not to
available in translation. At the same time,
engage in vainglory but rather to do us all a
those of us studying Burmese can benefit
favor. Sending notes about research projects,
from reading stories and interviews in the
whether recently completed or ongoing or
original and in translation. For both these
just in the early stages, similarly fosters
reasons, I am grateful to Anna Allott, who
scholarly exchanges. Communications about
was kind enough to contribute the following
training would also be valuable: do you
overview of recent Burmese writings
participate in academic programs where it
available in English translation. The Editor
would be feasible for people to study
Burma, and if so, could you delineate the
Translations of recent Burmese short
particular features or emphases of that
stories published in the past decade.
program? Insider tips such as where to find
good Burmese restaurants anywhere on the
It is probably true to say that today the short
globe would also prove welcome. One
story is the most popular and important
reward for being part of a very small
literary genre in Burma/Myanmar. Almost
academic club is that esoteric dining
all the numerous privately owned monthly
knowledge can bring a lot of prestige. Well,
magazines include in their contents several
some, anyway.
short stories; some are translations from
other languages, but most are original and

2 / March 2003 Bulletin of the Burma Studies Group

contemporary. In the 80s and 90s there need a longyi-box and a comb.‖) The author
could be as many as sixty to eighty stories a was born in 1952 in Upper Burma. He has
month. contributed well over a hundred short stories
as well as many articles to monthly
The strict censorship exercised by the magazines, and he continues to write.
government's Press Scrutiny Board means
that magazine editors avoid publishing Another prolific author, now living outside
stories that touch on certain 'provocative' Burma and working for Radio Free Asia, is
topics such as democracy, the 1988 student U Win Pe, three of whose stories are
demonstrations, prostitution, even grinding translated in Inked Over, Ripped Out: ―The
poverty. Nevertheless, many other aspects of Day the Weather Broke,‖ ―A Pair of Specs‖
life in Burma today have been truthfully and ―The Middle of May.‖ Another of his
depicted by the best contemporary writers, a stories, 'Barapi', appeared in "Index on
few of whose stories have recently been Censorship", vol. 23, July/August 1994,
published in English translation. p.106-112. And yet another, 'Clean, clear
water', was chosen for translation in Virtual
Seven authors are represented in my Lotus. I quote from a biographical note
collection, Inked Over, Ripped Out: written before he left Burma to live in USA,
Burmese Storytellers and the Censors, a ―Win Pe is one of Burma's most popular
Freedom-to-write Report written for the story tellers. He is, on his own admission,
PEN American Center, New York, in 1993. something of a jack-of-all-trades: journalist,
Ne Win Myint's story, ―The Advertising cartoonist, musician, film-director, painter
Cart,‖ about a son following in the footsteps and writer. His usually very amusing stories
of his father, ―can be interpreted as a have slowly become more sardonic. A
comment on the failure of successive Burmese critic has written about him that
Burmese governments to respond to from his deceptively simple, often comic,
changing economic conditions and to narratives emerge powerful images of greed,
modernize the country.‖ Four more stories anger and the stupidity of people.‖
by this author have been translated more
recently: one, ―Thadun,‖ appears in Virtual Nyi Pu Lay is the youngest son of a famous
Lotus: Modern Fiction of Southeast Asia, left-wing journalist husband-and-wife team
edited by Teri Shaffer Yamada (Ann Arbor: from Mandalay, Ludu U Hla and Ludu Daw
University of Michigan Press, 2001). And Amar. He had already begun to establish
three are in Tenggara 45/46, 2002 ( Journal himself as a writer when he was arrested in
of Southeast Asian Literature, published in December, 1990, and sentenced to ten years
Kuala Lumpur). ―Thadun‖ can be seen as a in prison. His story, 'The Python', about the
very humorous satire on political corruption Chinese moving into and taking over in
in Burma, cleverly disguised in a story about Mandalay, is included in Inked Over, Ripped
putting on a play of an episode in the life of Out. Two of his stories, written after his
Buddha. release from prison in February 1999, have
recently appeared in translation: ―Moe
Of the three stories in Tenggara, ―Nescafé‖ Hlaing settles the Score,‖ in Tenggara, no.
is one of Ne Win Myint‘s best-loved stories, 43 (2001), and 'The Country Boy‖ in The
ironically mocking the hero's passion for Kenyon Revue, Vol.XXIV, 3/4, summer/fall
Nescafé with an ambiguous ending. (The 2002 (USA). Both these stories bear the
other two are ―Wharfsong‖ and ―We still stamp of his prison experience; the latter

Bulletin of the Burma Studies Group March 2003 / 3

was not even submitted for publication in competition for new stories, held in memory
Burma. of another famous woman writer, Moe Moe
(Inya). It is a stark depiction of the
Women are well represented among distortions of contemporary Burmese life
Burmese short story writers, and there are caused by the country's economic decline:
four in Inked Over, Ripped Out. Nu Nu Yi the lack of employment opportunities for the
(Ava)'s moving story, ―He's not my father,‖ young which causes them to leave the
hints at the forcible press-ganging of men to country; the alarming inflation rate which
serve the Burmese army as porters at the renders the Burmese kyat worthless
front. This author's special understanding of compared to other foreign currencies; the
poverty and hardship is well shown in the humiliation experienced by the Burmese
stories of three women she had interviewed working in neighboring Malaysia or
in 1997, published in the American journal Singapore, in order to send money back to
Persimmon: Asian Literature, Arts and the family in Rangoon.
Culture, vol.1, no.2, (Summer 2000).
Entitled ―Living on the edge,‖ the three Last, but by no means least, the student of
stories are about a long-distance lorry contemporary Burmese society should read
driver's wife (whose husband had died of On the Road to Mandalay (Bangkok: White
AIDS), the mother of an undernourished Orchid Press, 1996), an excellent translation
child, and a homeless old woman. by Ohnmar Khin (a pen-name) and Sein
Kyaw Hlaing of a book of ―portraits of
Burma's many doctors who also write are ordinary people‖ by Mya Than Tint, a
represented in Inked Over, Ripped Out, by leading writer and intellectual, and translator
Ataram (a pen-name) whose story ―Hard of western writing. The 35 portraits here
Labour‖ is about the dilemma of a medical translated are based on interviews with
student who finds herself obliged to advise a people that the author met as he traveled
mother of several children to be sterilized, around the country, which he then published
contrary to traditional Buddhist teaching. in Kalya monthly magazine, and
The story by San San Nweh, 'The children subsequently in two volumes in 1993. Better
who play in the back alleyways‖ was not than any guide book, these tales of ordinary
passed for publication in Burma because it folk paint a vivid picture of life in Burma
too clearly recalled an incident in 1988 between 1987 and 1991.
when an innocent young student, sitting in a
tea-shop, was shot dead by a stray army All the above translations mentioned above,
bullet. except for three in Virtual Lotus, are by
Anna Allott or Vicky Bowman. There is
Two of the stories included in Virtual Lotus another book of translations, published
are by women writers. ―An Umbrella‖ by recently but not of very recent stories, ones
Ma Sandar, a prolific writer and humorous written between 1938 and 1960 by Thein Pe
observer of the social scene, formerly very Myint. The translations have been done by
popular, touches on personal relationships, Usha Narayanan, actually a Burmese I think
aging, and sexual double standards. ―An as she took her BA degree in Burmese
unanswerable question‖ by Daw Ohn Khin, Language and Literature from Rangoon
a retired schoolteacher, was chosen in 1995 University and was a lecturer there, until she
by a panel of Burmese writers for the award married K.R. Narayanan, President of India.
of first prize in the annual short story Her book is called Sweet and Sour: Burmese

4 / March 2003 Bulletin of the Burma Studies Group

short stories by Thein Pe Myint (New Delhi: Volume 4 – Pat-pyo and Yo-daya Songs:
Sterling Publishers, 1999). Six of these Voice and Pattala
stories are the same as the ones done by Volume 5 – Nat Pwe
Patricia Milne (with me) and published as a Volume 6 – Radio Program: Introduction
Cornell Data Paper No. 91, Selected Stories to Burmese Music
of Thein Pe Myint (Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell Volume 7 – Folk Songs: Part I
University Southeast Asia Program, 1973). Volume 8 – Folk Songs: Part II
Volume 9 – Folk Songs: Part III
Anna Allott Volume 10 – Folk Songs: Part IV
________________________ Volume 11 – Songs: Voice and Saung Gauk
Volume 12 – Kyo Songs: Voice and Saung
Gauk
Burmese Music Recordings Volume 13 – U Ba Thin
Volume 14 – An Introduction to Burmese
Old and New and Mon Instruments
________________________ A View of the Williamson CD cover:

Burmese music is one of the great little-

known musical treasures in the world. In
light of its variety, complexity, and
singularity, the music deserves to be much
better known. Some newly available CD‘s
should make it much easier for people to
learn about it, and for those of us who
already love it to indulge our pleasure in it.

Music of Burma: The Muriel Williamson

Collection

As a historical record, Muriel Williamson‘s

field recordings from the time of her
research in Mandalay in the 1960s are Mahagita
invaluable. Her analog tape recordings have
recently been transferred to a digital format Much less expansive in scope, but recorded
by Chris Miller, a graduate student at NIU. with vastly better equipment, is the CD
Here is a list of the CD‘s, which are recently released by Smithsonian Folkways
available from the Center. As is usually the entitled Mahagita: Harp and Vocal Music
case for field recordings, the sound is of from Burma. The track list of the songs is:
variable quality.
1 - In praise of the Burmese harp
Volume 1 – Kyo Songs: Voice and Pattala 2 - The glory of the king
Volume 2 – Kyo Songs: Mixed 3 - Rain and princess
Instrumentation 4 - Lonely in the forest
Volume 3 – Pat-Pyo Songs: Mixed 5 - A huntsman enchanted
Instrumentation 6 - Longing in a forest glade

Bulletin of the Burma Studies Group March 2003 / 5

7 - The twelve royal gates the other organizers' dedicated months-long
8 - The king's potency work, it cannot but be a resounding success.
9 - Waiting
Gustaaf has asked me for a short message
The late Inle Myint Maung played the harp about what I would like to see in the future.
and his star student, Yi Yi Thant, sang for I must preface everything I say with the
this selection of songs from the classical words "I seem to remember" because it is a
thachìn gyì repertoire, recorded in Rangoon very long time since I have been involved in
in January, 2000. Produced by Rick any way with Burma studies.
Heizman and Ward Keeler, the CD is
available from Smithsonian Folkways I seem to remember that, in Sangha and
(www.folkways.si. edu). State in Burma, I expressed the hope that the
history of Sangha sects and lineages might,
Ward Keeler through textual studies and very detailed
________________________ analyses lead to putting faces on the monks,
and be pushed back beyond the reign of
Mindon. I would also like to see the matter
Recollections and studied laterally - that is perhaps across the
borders with neighboring Buddhist
Suggestions for Scholarship countries. In a nearby land, I am sure that
on Burma Sangha history in the Shan States would be
an enormously rewarding field. I believe I
________________________ also expressed the view that a great deal of
detailed local Sangha history would be
valuable.
Many of us were very disappointed that E.
Michael Mendelson was unable to attend the
While in Burma in 1958-9, I spent some
recent Burma Studies Conference in
considerable time in Land Registry offices
Gothenburg. His book, Sangha and State in
making a great number of large tracings of
Burma (edited by John P. Ferguson), has
maps of monastic lands. This was mostly in
proved a foundational text for scholarship
Rangoon - perhaps I did a little, too, in
not only about Burma but about Buddhism
Mandalay. Unfortunately I believe that these
in Southeast Asia more generally. However,
tracings have been lost. I do seem to
prior to the Gothenburg conference
remember, however, that I felt making them
Mendelson was kind enough to send Gustaaf
was very valuable and that they would
Houtman a message outlining ideas he had
reveal a number of clues as to Sangha
during his research that he thought might
structure and organization. I can only offer
provide useful leads to current scholars.
this as a hint.
With his permission, I reprint that message
here. The Editor
In the field of weikzas and "Messianic"
gaings, I was working at the time of my dis-
First I would like to say how very sorry I am
incarnation on the problem of the Four
not to be with you at this conference and to
Living and the Four Dead. When still
assure you that only serious medical
believing that I would join you, I glanced
problems in my family have kept me at
recently at Strong's book on Upagupta and
home. I am sure that, after all Gustaaf's and
noticed that he only devoted a very small

6 / March 2003 Bulletin of the Burma Studies Group

space to this fascinating icon. I was coming Beginnings
across extremely interesting material on this The film opens with scenes of sunrise over
theme's links with the cult of lohans in the temples of the Sagaing hills, just south
China, with the possibility of working out of Mandalay. Then, to a background of
Sarvastivadin influences in Burma - Burmese music, we are shown a pictorial
influences which would throw much light, I history of the Water Festival, going all the
was sure, on the question of Forest Monks. I way back to the time of the golden age of
wish I could remember more. So: another Pagan.
hint.
A Note on the Water Festival
Last but not least, I would like to express the The Burmese New Year is ushered in with
hope that the conference will recognize a the merriest of the monthly festivals,
major re-awakening of Burma studies Thäjan, known in English as the Water
among the people attending and that this Festival. It takes place early in the first lunar
will be a beneficent influence on the month of Tagù, corresponding to April in
peaceful future of the Golden Land. the Western calendar. That is the hottest
time of the year, and it is particularly hot
E. Michael Mendelson and dry in Mandalay, the city regarded as
________________________ the cultural center of Burma, and the place
where our story unfolds. Traditionally,
Thäjà Mìn (Sekra, or Indra in Hindu
A Burmese Film mythology), the King of Heaven, is said to
descend to earth at this time to signal the
________________________ beginning of three, sometimes four days, of
celebration, during which time the main
activity of the population seems to be the
sprinkling and spraying of water over
Thäjan Mò--"The Rains of the Water everyone in sight (though not over police,
Festival," Directed by Maun Tin U, 1985 officials or monks.) The watering may be
quite formal, as when a student comes up to
Over a decade ago, San San Hnin Tun, of her teacher and carefully pours a container
Cornell University, and Julian Wheatley, of water over him, saying something like ―I
now of MIT, put together the following do homage to you with water‖ but more
synopsis of a charming Burmese film, full of often it is just a mad melee. Since the New
the twists and turns without which no Year is a time of forgiveness, being sprayed
Southeast Asian film would win an or doused with water is not supposed to
audience’s favor. San San has also arouse anger or resistance.
produced a CD using excerpts from the film
as a learning tool for students of Burmese. Music and dance are much a part of the
Copies of the CD are available for sale: Water Festival. The main characters in the
contact Treva Vanscoy at Noyes Language film are members of a musical group called
Center (tlv4@cornell.edu) or check the ‗Myo-má Tì-waìn‘ (‗City Band‘), who
Noyes Language Resource Center website entertain the crowds from elaborate floats.
(http://lrc.cornell.edu) for information about Other groups organize pavilions along the
ordering copies. The Editor sides of the road, welcoming the floats with
dances, then dousing their riders with water.

Bulletin of the Burma Studies Group March 2003 / 7

 members of the float. Both groups toast
Audiences familiar with Burma will each other, and the float resumes its journey.
recognize some of the scenery in the film:
Mandalay Hill, northeast of the city, with its The young man is named Nyèin Maun; he's
fine views of Mandalay Fort, enclosing the a pianist and the leader of the band. The
site of the royal Palace (recently dancer is Myá K'eq, who is part of the crew
reconstructed, incidentally); the moat and of the float; we soon find out that her family
wide avenues surrounding the fort; the is poor, and her mother, very ill. The flower
clocktower at Ze Jo, the central market in girl is K'in K'in T'à, or T'à; she comes from
Mandalay; the Great Pagoda, with the white a wealthy family, run by a formidable
c'in-dhé (lions) at its entrance; and the matriarch. We can refer to the three as: the
wooden bridge of U Bein and the views of pianist, the dancer and the wealthy daughter.
the Sagaing Hills and lakes near Amarapura, The dancer and the pianist seem to have
just south of Mandalay. worked together for some time. He
composes songs for her; they have a
The First Generation ‗teacher-student‘ relationship. She obviously
The film opens in the year 1957. A float admires him greatly.
arrives at the Great Pagoda in Mandalay and
the singers and dancers descend to worship In the next scene the dancer appears at
the Mahamuni Buddha image inside. Our Nyèin Maun's house for rehearsal, to find
gaze is drawn to one of the dancers, a him contemplating the sprig of yellow
delicate woman, who seems to be looking blossom that he has picked up; but when
for someone in particular to help her down. she, flirtatiously, asks for the flower, he
We then observe a wealthy looking family rebukes her sharply, and she quickly leaves.
driving up in an Opel. A foot decorated with
a thick gold bangle (Mandalay style) We shift to the shop of an older man, the
emerges from the door, followed by the rest pianist's manager, who is trying to persuade
of a strikingly sensual young woman, him to produce more suggestive lyrics that
together with a number of her family would attract a greater audience, a
members. Two young women -- the dancer suggestion that he indignantly rejects. As
from the float, and the one from the car -- they are talking, K‘in K'in T'à, the wealthy
encounter each other briefly as they stop to daughter, appears in the background,
buy flowers at the entrance to the pagoda. shopping for some new records. As Nyèin
Soon after, in the dark of the temple, we find Maun storms out in protest over his
the three protagonists engaged in devotional unprincipled manager, he bumps into K'in
activity. But lo, on her way in, the girl who K'in T'à, and the record falls to the floor and
emerged from the car lets fall a sprig of breaks. Nyèin Maun tells a clerk to give her
yellow bädauq blossom, a flower associated another and to bill him; the replacement
with the Water Festival. The young man turns out to be one of his songs, and in this
picks it up, cradling it in his hands, and way, K'in K'in T'à discovers the identity of
looks fondly after the girl who dropped it, as the man who bumped into her.
the other woman, the dancer, looks on. We
resume the celebrations back on the street, K'in K'in T'à returns to her room and listens
as a group of young women, including the in rapt pleasure to the poetic lyrics of the
one who dropped the flower, dance for the song, and despite her protests that she is in
love with the music rather than the pianist,

8 / March 2003 Bulletin of the Burma Studies Group

she follows the suggestion of a friend, and dancer, and her ill mother. Nyèin Maun has
decides to take music lessons with him. But no choice but to help them to the hospital.
at the interview, as her 'approved' suitor As the hours go by, T'à grows more and
looks on, her formidable mother decides that more anxious, and eventually, thinking that
Nyèin Maun is too young to be teaching her she has been rejected, she tears up the sheets
daughter. K'in K'in T'à, a resourceful of music that Nyèin Maun has written for
woman, soon comes up with the idea of her. Just at that time, the mother, who has
taking singing lessons from Nyèin Maun bribed the cart drivers to reveal T'a's
instead. location, appears before her, slaps her face,
and takes her home. Nyèin Maun arrives
Meanwhile, Nyèin Maun, visiting the home hours late to find only the torn music.
of the other woman, Myá K'eq, the dancer,
is concerned to find out that her mother is The original plans are revived. K'in K'in T'à
very ill, and kindly contributes money to and her approved suitor plan their wedding.
buy her medicine. T'à requests that Nyèin Maun's band be
invited to perform at the wedding, not
K'in K'in T'à does manage to arrange to have because she still loves him, she says, but
singing lessons with Nyèin Maun, and the because she wants to prove to her fiancé that
couple soon fall in love. They wander she has no feelings for him anymore. When
through some beautiful countryside around Nyèin Maun, who has heard nothing from
Mandalay. As they stand on the parapet of T'à since the failed elopement, receives the
one temple, Nyèin Maun announces that he invitation, he feels that T'à is simply trying
is giving K'in K'in T'à a song that he has just to humiliate him; but he accepts anyway, as
written. She accepts, but on the condition his 'professional' duty. K'in K'in T'à adds to
that the two of them sing it at their wedding. his perceived humiliation by requesting that
Unfortunately though, as they are talking, he and Myá K'eq perform 'their' song at the
they are seen by the 'approved' suitor; the wedding. It is only at this point, as she
mother finds out and prohibits K'in K'in T'à listens to the song, that someone explains to
from leaving the house again. T'à what has happened to Nyèin Maun on
the way to the elopement. Her heart sinks,
Our pianist pines around the house, but it is too late to change things.
suspecting a rejection from his love, but
before long, he receives a letter from her Some time passes, and Nyèin Maun and
inviting him to elope, a common solution to Mya K‘eq have apparently grown quite
such conflicts in Burma. At first, he rejects close. One day, she comes to Nyèin Maun's
elopement as dishonorable, but a friend house to find him collapsed over his piano in
encourages him. They are to meet at the a drunken stupor. He awakes, but sees only
temple by the lake (where Nyèin Maun a vision of the beautiful K'in K‘in T'à,
earlier dedicated his song to T'à), at 10: 00 humiliating him at the wedding, and in his
in the morning. The next day, K'in K'in T'à confusion he strikes Myá K'eq. But despite
sets off with her maid on a horse-cart to wait this, the two do eventually grow to love each
for Nyèin Maun in the temple. At about the other. Myá K'eq becomes pregnant and,
same time, Nyèin Maun and his associate around the time of the Water Festival, goes
also set off, but--as fate would have it--on into labor, but dies giving birth to a healthy
the road, they encounter a horse-cart with a baby boy.
broken axle; it is carrying Myá K'eq, the

Bulletin of the Burma Studies Group March 2003 / 9

The Second Generation the guitar, and Theq T'wè plays the piano.
Nyèin Maun continues his decline, spending Theq T'wè's father warns him not to fall in
his days lounging around the house drinking love with the girl, telling him how he was
cheap spirits. Occasionally he performs, but humiliated 20 years before.
his playing has also deteriorated. Despite
the urging of his friends, he cannot rise out Nweh Nweh, who is falling in love with
of his misery even to take care of his own Theq T'wè, tries to arouse his jealousy by
son. Eventually, his close friend offers him a telling of Ko Laq's interest in her. But Theq
deal: he will pay for the son's schooling if T'wè feels too constrained to respond. He is
Nyèin Maun will teach the son music. clearly in love with Nweh, but when he
explains to his father the difficulties he is
The son, Theq-T'wè, grows up to become an having trying to control his feelings, his
accomplished pianist like his father. He is father changes his mind again, forbidding
admitted to Mandalay University and is him to participate in the festivities. Theq
invited to perform at the 'Freshers' welcome. T'wè visits Nweh to tell her that he must
There he is captivated by a beautiful young withdraw; Daw K'in K'in T'à, who now runs
dancer who performs with him; she turns out a jewelry stand at the Mandalay market, asks
to be Nweh Nweh, the daughter of K'in K'in who the young man is, and then she too
T'à. They make plans to perform at the next finds out the relationship. She decides to
Water Festival; but Theq-T'wè's father does visit the father, Ù Nyèin Maun, herself, and
not want him wasting his talent on such finds him at home in his usual drunken state.
mundane activities, and forbids him from He reproaches her for her wealth and
performing on the floats. Theq T'wè position in society, and ignores her pleas
consoles himself by writing in his diary. not to let the problems of the parents affect
the children.
Nweh Nweh visits Theq T'wè at his house to
try to persuade him to join them on the float, At this time, Ko Laq appears on his
but has to settle for only his songs. She asks motorcycle, talks briefly with K'in K'in T'à's
him to pick bädauq flowers with her in the driver, then rides off--having perhaps
garden, and as the audience anticipates, as discovered something. And later he finds
she leaves she too drops a sprig, just as her out the whole story. We also learn that T'à's
mother did the previous generation. Theq driver, who was supposed to communicate
T'wè picks it up and carries it carefully with Nyèin Maun's associate (his 'second')
inside. The father asks who the girl is, and after the failed elopement, did not so for fear
only then discovers her relation to K'in K'in of compounding the embarrassment.
T'à. Then, he has a change of mind, and
agrees to allow his son to perform with them Ko Laq continues to suggest to Theq T'wè
after all. that he is planning to propose to Nweh.
Theq T'wè is disconsolate. After some
The band has been in need of a singer, and attempts to distract himself from his misery,
Theq T'wè has arranged for his old friend, he returns home, and seeing the bottle of
Ko Laq to come up from Rangoon to join spirits on the table, pours a glass for himself.
them. Ko Laq, in leather jacket and shades, His father sees him and scolds him; the son
arrives on a motorbike, and flirts confidently defends himself, saying that an alcoholic
with Nweh Nweh--the daughter. They all father having a son who drinks is not so
practice together; Nweh sings, Ko Laq plays strange as a musician who prevents his son

10 / March 2003 Bulletin of the Burma Studies Group

from playing. Ko Laq appears at the house ________________________
to bring Theq T'wè back to the festivities.
The father then relents, and gives his son
permission to play; Ko Laq convinces Theq Maps of Burma by
T'wè that it is worth participating even with
only one more night left, and they ride back European Cartographers in
to the float (which, is named Thäjan Mò ‗the NIU Special Collections
rains of the Water Festival‘.)
________________________
Theq T'wè performs with Ko Laq and the
dancers. Ko Laq shows Theq T'wè the The recent book Siam Mapped by Thongchai
present he--Ko Laq!-- has prepared for Winichakul has made many Southeast
Nweh and carries on about his plans for the Asianists aware of how much the history of
evening. He also shows him some music maps has to tell us. It is our good luck,
that he has written. Nweh looks on, therefore, that NIU turns out to have an
accompanied by her friend, who urges her to excellent collection of maps of Southeast
open Ko Laq's present. Ko Laq now Asia, including several with at least parts
(both real and imagined) of Burma. Kay
performs the song written for the occasion, Shelton has contributed the following
and Nweh's friend opens the present--which account of the maps, in addition to updating
turns out not to be from Ko Laq at all, but to the list of the NIU map collection’s holdings
be Theq T'wè 's diary, documenting his love that follows her article. The Editor
for her. Nweh beams with happiness, and
Theq T'wè, who is now also in on the 'plot', One of the hidden treasures at Northern
plays while she dances. So Ko Laq has Illinois University (NIU) is a collection of
over 100 maps of or related to Burma,
plotted all along to bring the lovers together. dating from 1535 to the 1800s. These maps,
The parents look on, and Nyèin Maun encapsulated in protective Mylar and stored
eventually smiles in acceptance as he walks within the Map Special Collection in the
off smoking his cheroot. We end with the Rare Books and Special Collections
rains falling on the buds of the bädauq Department of the Northern Illinois
flower, reference to the belief that the University Libraries, are available for
researchers. The individual maps are
bädauq will only flower if it rains during the described and listed in the online public
water festival. access catalog of the library. Most patrons,
however, do not know that they can use the
San San Hnin Tun online ‗book‘ catalog to search for maps, so
Julian Wheatley few people discover the Map Collection.
This paper will provide an overview of the
history of the Map Collection, highlight
some of the maps of the greatest importance
to the history of Burma and cartography, and
thus make this almost secret cache better
known. Many of these maps cannot be
located anywhere except NIU on the Online
Computer Library Center‘s (OCLC)
database, a world-wide library catalog
system.

The Map Special Collection today results

from efforts made by several different

Bulletin of the Burma Studies Group March 2003 / 11

departments within the Northern Illinois maps of Southeast Asia. Many of the oldest
University Libraries. In 1963, when the maps of Burma in the collection are
Center for Southeast Asian Studies was attributed to Claudius Ptolemy (87-150
established at NIU, the library held very few A.D.), often called the ―father of
maps of the region.1 In 1965, the Map geography.‖5 He collected information from
Library opened as part of the library in one sailors and travelers and wrote descriptions
of its former locations, Swen Parson Hall; of places, including navigational
to augment storage space, some maps were instructions. In 1406, his writings were
also held in Davis Hall.2 Hundreds more translated into Latin and published in book
maps were purchased from around 1969 to form entitled Geographia, thus making his
1970 for both the Map Library and for Davis geographical information, including many
Hall to help support academic programs at locations in Southeast Asia, more accessible
NIU. to scholars of that time.6 He was the first to
write down coordinates and an
Special Collections originally did not accompanying text so that others could
include maps: it began with a collection of create a map from his text and in doing so,
personal hygiene (―sex‖) books held for the he considered the curvature of the earth and
Biology Department in the Haish Library. relative distance between places.7 Although
When the library moved to Swen Parson scientific in his efforts, Ptolemy often
Hall in 1952, those materials ended up being incorporated questionable information,
stored in a locked chicken wire cage to especially for his place names.8
protect them from vandalism.3 Former
Library Director Clyde Walton later Places described by Ptolemy include
established the Rare Books Room in 1967 Argentea Regio, or ―kingdom of silver‖
within the library in Swen Parson Hall.4 which is east of the Ganges River, Aurea
The library moved yet again to its present Regio or ―kingdom of gold,‖ Sinus
location in Founders Memorial Library in Sabaricus or the ―Gulf of Martaban,‖ and
1977. The Rare Books and Special ―Temala‖ which ―appears to be the
Collections areas were consolidated into one Irrawaddy.‖9 Following the publication of
collection at this time, with its own climate- Geographia, mapmakers interpreted
and light-controlled space, sans the chicken Ptolemy and created maps based on his
wire cage. With this new space available, descriptions. One map in the collection,
librarians identified older and rarer maps Tabula orientalis regionis, Asiae scilicet
held in the former Map Library in Swen extremas complectens terras & regna,
Parson Hall and in Davis Hall for transfer to produced in 1540 and attributed to Ptolemy
the better-equipped storage facilities, thus but created by German mapmaker Sebastian
forming the Map Special Collection. Recent Münster, includes the place names Regio
maps of Southeast Asia remain at what is argentea, Pego, Regio aurea, and depicts an
now the Map Library in Davis Hall. Library unnamed river, all in the area of what is now
faculty and staff finished cataloging most of Burma. The unnamed river is shown east of
these maps by the summer of 1981. The the Ganges on this map and is probably the
original special collection containing the Irrawaddy, but because neither Ptolemy nor
―sex‖ books no longer exists—times have the mapmaker, Münster, visited these areas
changed and those types of books are now in person, the telltale delta is missing.
kept on the open book shelves.
Although he advanced geography
Although the Map Special Collection today significantly, Ptolemy believed that the
includes a broad range of maps depicting all Indian Ocean was closed. His descriptions
parts of the globe, there is an emphasis on
5
Tooley, 1979: 521.
1 6
Teoh, 1986: 12, 35. Suarez, 1999: 82.
2 7
Teoh, 1986: 35. Berggen & Jones, 2000: 3.
3 8
Northern Star, May 15, 1964. Whitfield, 1998: 11.
4 9
Northern Star, Mar. 23, 1975. Suarez, 1999: 84.

12 / March 2003 Bulletin of the Burma Studies Group

resulted in mapmakers connecting the coast a woodblock but he inserted place names
of Asia to Africa and depicting the Indian into the woodblock on metal type instead of
Ocean as an ―enclosed sea unconnected with carving the names in the block itself. Over
the Atlantic Ocean.‖10 The Portuguese later time, some of the metal type fell out so there
learned from Arab geographers who were were variations in the maps produced
more knowledgeable that the Indian Ocean because a letter or two fell out; sometimes
was not was not landlocked.11 Although the mapmakers did not bother to replace
Münster incorporated knowledge more missing type or replaced it with new type
recent than Ptolemy and opened up the that did not match.18 Münster‘s map in
Indian Ocean for his map Tabula orientalis NIU‘s collection appears to include all the
regionis, he only had access to older letters. Although not accurate
Portuguese and Spanish navigation charts.12 cartographically, this map is visually
Of course, for competitive countries and appealing with its sea green oceans made
merchants, accurate navigational knowledge possible through hand coloring, a gigantic
was highly valuable. For a while, fish monster engraved south of India, and its
geographical knowledge remained guarded attempts at showing the topography of
secrets. Well into the 15th century the mountain ranges.
penalty for selling Portuguese charts to
foreigners was death, and in the 16th century Besides Münster‘s map, NIU‘s collection
a new law required charts to be checked out includes seven other maps by various
and returned after a voyage.13 Pilots also mapmakers based on Ptolemy. One
had to undergo a background check before attributed to Cornelius Wytfliet's atlas,
they were allowed access to navigational Histoire universelle des Indes et Occid, is
information.14 Despite Münster‘s lack of really four different maps on one sheet; it
access to the latest knowledge under such dates to probably around 1605.19 Another,
circumstances, Thomas Suarez is Tabula Asiae XI, revised by mapmaker
particularly critical of his work, writing that Giroamo Ruscelli and published in Venice
his maps were ―… poorly executed, and his in 1561, is from Vincenzo Valgrisi‘s La
texts represent an uncritical acceptance of a geografia di Claudio Tolomeo.20 It includes
wide range of sources, new and old, good the place names Aurea regio located east of
and bad.‖15 the Ganges and Temala fl., which appears to
be in the location of the Irrawaddy, but does
Furthermore, Münster did not correct not include a delta. There are notes on the
Ptolemy‘s overestimate of the eastern verso of the map in Italian about India and
extension of Asia to past 180°,16 so his China. The map by Ruscelli has similarities
Tabula orientalis regionis depicts Asia to an earlier 1540 Ptolemy map by Sebastian
extending too far east. On the map of North Münster by the same title, Tabula Asiae XI
America he made as a pair to this one, Asia held at NIU. Both appear to have been
extends to the north of what was to become produced from woodblock but the Münster
Canada.17 Unfortunately, NIU does not map includes a vignette of two roosters and
have the original North America map, but it a gaunt lion, indicating the map‘s purpose
can be viewed in secondary sources. was probably more for decoration rather
than navigation.
Münster took short cuts producing the map
that NIU has. The map itself was carved in Neither the library catalog record nor the
map itself for Tabu[la] Moder[na] Indiae
10
Berggen & Jones, 2000: 22. sheds much light as to the creator, publisher,
11
Suarez, 1999: 87. or date. It was possibly published in
12
Whitfield, 1998: 6.
13 18
Harley, 2001: 92. Suarez, 1999: 129.
14 19
Harley, 2001: 92. Tooley’s Dictionary of Mapmakers places the date
15
Suarez, 1999: 121. of publication as 1605. Tooley, 1979: 677.
16 20
Suarez, 1999: 127. Notes field of the OCLC record for Tabula Asiae
17
Suarez, 1999: 129. XI.

Bulletin of the Burma Studies Group March 2003 / 13

Lugduni by M. & G. Trechsel Fratres in Gerhard (Gerardus) Mercator (1512-1594).
1535 and may be based on Ptolemy‘s Like many other maps in the collection,
Geographicae enarrationis libri octo Northern Illinois University is the only
according to the cataloging record.21 library listed on OCLC as possessing this
Secondary sources, however, provide more map. This map was originally part of
insight. This map is similar to the 1513 Mercator‘s atlas Geographiae libri octo
woodblock map by Martin Waldseemüller recogniti jam et diligenter emendati cum
(1474-1519), Tabula Moderna India, seen in tabulis geographicis ad mentem auctoris
Suarez.22 NIU‘s copy includes decorative restitutes ac emendates… which included
engravings of a horned goat with a maps on separate sheets. The atlas was first
shepherd‘s staff and an inscription held by a published in Cologne during 1584 by
crowned male figure not seen on Godefridus Kempensis and later became
Waldseemüller‘s map in Suarez.23 This known as the Mercator Atlas.25 It is unclear
inscription and the engravings are identical from which edition NIU‘s map is because
to the detail found in Suarez‘s description of the first edition is from 1584 and the map is
a 1522 map by Lorenz Fries (c1490-1530). dated with an estimate of 1578. Most likely
Fries took Waldseemüller‘s work on the 1578 estimated date is in error. Just east
Ptolemy and created an updated edition. of the Ganges is a peculiar-sounding place
However, in his preface he wrote ―...we name, ―Tamere anthropophagi.” The word
declare that these maps were originally ―anthropophagi‖ means ―cannibals‖ and
constructed by Martin Waldseemüller.‖24 Suarez writes of the Var who were feared
Most likely, NIU has the slightly younger for cannibalism, who lived in this vicinity.26
edition by Fries instead of the original first
edition by Waldseemüller. Of possible NIU holds two more maps attributed to
interest to historians, this 1535(?) map Mercator, one from 1630 and another from
includes the place name, Maitabane or 1636, both obviously published after his
Martaban. death. The small 1630 map India Orientalis
shows a wide river with a mouth opening up
The most vividly colored of the Ptolemy into the Gulf of Bengal and Pegu as a city on
maps held by NIU is India Orientalis. The an island in the middle of the river. The
color was added by hand after the map‘s other map, also called India Orientalis, was
printing. There is no definitive information created by Henry Hondius and John
on the map itself as to the creator or Johnson. The map is two sheets of paper
publisher, but the publishing date may be seamed together and there are two pages
1608. With a hand-colored, vivid green from a book written in English forming the
border still bright despite its age, the map is verso, indicating this map was originally in a
striking visually. Aracan, however, is placed book, although which book is not indicated.
north of ―Indostan‖ and ―Bengala‖ within a The text is mostly on East India and India
mountain range, west of the Ganges delta. proper and would have stimulated the
Also, there are two archipelagos in straight imaginations of Europeans remaining at
lines off the coast of Pegu. One can only home with passages such as:
hope that this map‘s purpose was decorative,
not navigational. On the verso of this map is All Beasts are larger, and greater bon‘d here
a text on India in Latin. then in any other part of the world. Here
are huge wilde Bulls, Camells, Lyons,
The last of NIU‘s Ptolemy maps, Tab[ula] Rhinocerots, Elephants, and Doggs. In the
XI Asiae, comprehendens Indiam extra wilderness are terrible Dragons, which are
Gangem, is attributed to both Ptolemy and almost as bigg as Elephants, with whome
they fight continually.27
21
Notes field of the OCLC record for Tabu[la].
Moder[na] Indiae.
22 25
Suarez, 1999: 110-111. Sotheby & Co., 1972: 27.
23 26
Suarez, 1999: 110-111. Suarez, 1999: 107.
24 27
Suarez, 1999: 114. Mercator, 1636.

14 / March 2003 Bulletin of the Burma Studies Group

 city of Pegu and it is the only inland city
In addition to such a text, there is a devilish, listed on that map. Neither of these maps is
dragon-like fish monster shown swimming hand colored nor do they include any
in the Gulf of Bengal, with a size somewhat extraneous vignettes or decorative fish
larger than a ship depicted sailing south of monsters.
it. Including whales and sea monsters in
mapmaking remained popular until around India quae Orientalis dicitur, et Insulae
1800, when images of ships became more adiacentes by Willem Janszoon Blaeu from
prevalent.28 The people, however, are 1640 dovetails Portolan Charting with
described more favorably compared to the decorative mapping. Willem Janszoon
wild beasts and sea monster: Blaeu (1571-1638) was a cartographer in
Amsterdam who studied under Tycho Brahe,
The people are indifferently civil, and was the father of Joan Blaeu (1596-1673)
ingenious. Both men and women imitate a and Cornelius Blaeu (1610-48). His family
majesty in their going & apparel, which they became the official cartographers of the
sweeten with oils and perfumes, adorning Dutch East India Company.32 NIU‘s
themselves with Jewels, Pearls, and other collection includes several maps from the
ornaments befitting.29 Blaeu family. Maps and atlases by the
In contrast to the imaginative map by Blaeus are much sought after for their
Hondius and Johnson, NIU does have maps beauty and, because a fire in 1672 destroyed
that are more navigational in nature, bearing the family printing house, such materials are
similarities to Portolan Charts. Portolan exceptionally rare.33 NIU also has Asia
Charts originated during the 13th century and novtiter delineata, depicting Asia from what
were intended primarily for navigation. Thus is today Turkey to Japan. The map is of
usually the only place names included on particular interest for its attractive vignettes
those charts were the towns and cities along of several cities and of its portrayal of native
the coasts. Also, there was a ―system of peoples (although they look like Europeans
directional lines radiating from two or more wearing exotic clothing). India quae
compass points or ‗roses.‘‖30 The Orientalis dicitur… includes compass roses
Portuguese made great use of Portolan indicative of Portolan Charts, but inland
Charts, but many of them were in towns and cities are listed and the hand-
manuscript form only and very few have colored map incorporates decorative
survived into the present day.31 Carte engraved items such as a coat of arms, a
Réduite du Golfe de Bengale, depuis l'Isle de man in a suit of armor, and cherubs using
Ceylan jusqu'au Golfe de Siam, avec la cartographic tools. The map is two pages
partie Septentrionale du Détroit de Malac from a book seamed together with text in
from probably 1775 and A New Chart of the French on the verso. There is a short
Oriental Seas and Islands with the Coasts of description of Aracan and Pegu.
the Continent from the Isle of Ceylon to
Amoye in China--The Whole Compared with The map by Pieter Goos, Pascaert van
the Last Edition of the Neptune Oriental of t'Ooster Gedeelte van Oost Indien van C.
1794 both by Jean-Baptist-Nicholas Denis Comorin tot Iapan, from around 1650 also
d‘ Apres de Mannevillette have represents a combination of decorative
characteristic compass roses with lines mapping and Portolan Charts. Like Blaeu,
radiating outward and place names along the Pieter Goos (ca. 1616-1675) belonged to a
coasts. Neither of NIU‘s copies is in family of cartographers in Amsterdam, with
manuscript form; both are printed from father Abraham and son Hendrik.34 The
engravings. A New Chart of the Oriental map by Goos shows Southeast Asia from a
Seas…does however indicate a well-inland different perspective; it is not shown north
28
Lynam, 1953: 46.
29 32
Mercator, 1636. Tooley, 1979: 61.
30 33
Shirley, 1983: xx. Jonathan Potter Ltd., 2003.
31 34
Fell, 1988: 5. Tooley, 1979: 253.

Bulletin of the Burma Studies Group March 2003 / 15

to south like most maps. Instead, the map from New Guinea wearing feathers, along
has east at the top of the map, so the regions with a well-endowed, bare-breasted female.
of Aracan and Pegu are in the lower left J. B. Harley wrote about how decorations on
corner with Australia (identified as maps often represented European ideas of
Hollandia Nova) in the upper right corner. conquest and reinforced racial stereotypes in
Only coastal towns and cities are named and their portrayals of native peoples.38 At first
there are compass roses, but no rivers are glance, vignettes on this map may appear
depicted—pilots would need knowledge of harmless and purely decorative, but they
the location of rivers, especially those that exoticize native peoples whom most
reach the seas. NIU‘s copy is hand colored Victorians would never encounter first hand.
and includes engravings of ships and an
elaborate cartouche with a traveling NIU holds dozens more maps than those
expedition complete with luggage, supplies, described here. To find out which maps
and porters. Most likely this map‘s purpose NIU has, there is a Web site linked from the
was decorative, not navigational. University Libraries homepage which
provides instructions on how to search for
Lastly, NIU‘s collection includes several maps in the Map Collection and includes a
maps of Burma and the surrounding areas small sample of digitized maps of Burma
from the nineteenth century. One map, and the surrounding region. As of March
although mostly of insular Southeast Asia, 2003, this Web site is at:
Malay Archipelago or East India Islands <http://www.niulib.niu.edu/rbsc/maps.html>
includes the place names of Birmah, a well-
inland Pegu, Tenasserim, Martaban, and Due to the age and uniqueness of the maps,
Mouths of the Irawady. The company J. and they cannot be circulated through
F. Tallis of London produced this map in interlibrary loan. Interested researchers may
1851 as part of the Illustrated Atlas, contact the Rare Books and Special
featuring maps engraved by John Rapkin, Collections department at: (815) 753-9838
decorative borders, and vignettes drawn by for more information.
H. Warren and engraved by T. Smith.35 The
map is beautifully produced from engraved Kay Shelton
steel plates with hand-colored regional
borders outlined. Because of the hand
coloring, no two maps will be exactly alike. REFERENCES
To create these maps, steel plates were
etched with the images in reverse, inked Berggen, J. Lennart and Alexander Jones.
applied in the etched lines, excess ink wiped Ptolemy’s Geography: An
off, and mapmakers then pressed the plates Annotated Translation of the
firmly onto the paper.36 At the time of its Theoretical Chapters. Princeton:
publication, the text in the Illustrated Atlas Princeton University Press, 2000.
described Ava as the capital of Birmah
while Martaban, Tavoy, Tenasserim, and Fell, R. T. Early Maps of South-East Asia.
Megu were governed by England.37 On the Singapore: Oxford University Press,
map held by NIU, Birmah is outlined in 1988.
yellow while the land governed by England
is outlined in red. Along with the Harley, J. B. The New Nature of Maps:
geographical representations, there are four Essays in the History of
vignettes depicting areas in Borneo and New Cartography. Paul Laxton, ed.
Guinea, one of a bee bear, and one of a Baltimore: John Hopkins University
romanticized portrayal of two native men Press, 2001.

35
Martin, 1989: 10; Rapkin, 1851.
36
Martin, 1989: 10.
37 38
Martin, 1989: 111. Harley, 2001: 76.

16 / March 2003 Bulletin of the Burma Studies Group

Jonathan Potter Ltd. ―Asia.‖ [Web
document]. London. Retrieved ―Parson Library offers collection of rare
February 17, 2003 from books.‖ The Northern Star, Mar, 23,
<http://www.jpmaps.co.uk/asia.htm> 1975.

Lynam, Edward. The Mapmaker’s Art: Rapkin, J. Malay archipelago or East India
Essays on the History of Maps, Islands. London: J. and F. Tallis,
London: Batchworth Press, 1953. 1851.

Martin, R. Montgomery, editor. Antique Shirley, Rodney W. The Mapping of the

Maps of the 19th Century World. World: Early Printed World Maps
New York: Portland House, 1989. 1472-1700. London: Holland Press
Ltd., 1983.
Mercator, Gerhard. India Orientalis.
Amsterdam: Henry Hondius and Suárez, Thomas. Early Mapping of
John Johnson, 1636. Southeast Asia. Singapore: Periplus
Editions, 1999.
―NIU Library Boasts Rare Book
Collection.‖ The Northern Star, Teoh, Siew-Lai. ―SEA & NIU: 1961-
Friday, May 15, 1964, p. 16. 1986.‖ Unpublished manuscript,
1986.
―Notes field of the OCLC record for Tabula
Asiae XI.” Retrieved February 17, Tooley, Ronald Vere, compiler. Tooley’s
2003 from OCLC First Search online Dictionary of Mapmakers. New
data (Accession No. 7470062). York: A. R. Liss, 1979.

―Notes field of the OCLC record for Whitfield, Peter. New Found Lands: Maps
Tabu[la] Moder[na] Indiae.” in the History of Explorations. New
Retrieved February 17, 2003 from York: Routledge, 1998.
OCLC First Search online data
(Accession No. 7478303).

____________________________

Bibliography of Maps of Burma

____________________________
Rare Books and Special Collections Department,
Founders Memorial Library
Northern Illinois University

1990 List Compiled by the Center for Burma Studies

along with October 14, 2002 Update by Kay Shelton

G 8000 Aa, Pieter van der

1720z SCHEEPTOGT ONDER DEN AMMIRAAL WYBRAND
.A12 VAN WARWYK, VAN BANTAM NA CHINA GEDAAN
Leiden, 172?

Bulletin of the Burma Studies Group March 2003 / 17

G 8000 Anville, Monsieur d’
1755 ASIA
.A58 London, 1755

G 7400 Anville, Monsieur d’

1752 SECONDE PARTIE DE LA CARTE D’ASIE,
.A58 CONTENANT LA CHINE ET PARTIE DE LA TARTARIE, L’INDE AU
DELA DU GANGE, LES ISLES SUMATRA, JAVA, BORNEO, MOLUQUES,
PHILIPPINES ET DU JAPON
Paris, 1752

G 7652 Apres de Mannevillette, Jean-Baptist-Nicolas Denis d’

.B4 P5 CARTE REDUITE DU GOLFE DE BANGALE,
1775 DEPUIS L’ELSE DE CEYLAN JUSQU’AU GOLFE
.A67 DE SIAM, AVEC LA PARTIE SEPTENTRIONALE DUDETROIT DE MALAC
Paris, 1775?

G 8001 Apres de Mannevillette, Jean Baptiste Nicolas Denis d’

.P5 A CHART OF THE EAST INDIA ISLANDS WITH THE
1778 COASTS OF THE CONTINENT FROM CALMINERA
.A67 POINT TO AMOYE IN CHINA, DRAWN FROM THE BEST JOURNALS
AND REMARKS OF NAVIGATORS ASCERTAINED BY ASTRONOMICAL
OBSERVATIONS AND IMPROVED FROM THE LAST EDITION OF THE
NEPTUNE ORIENTAL
London, 1778

G 8001 Apres de Mannevillette, Jean Baptiste Nicolas Denis D.’

.P5 A NEW CHART OF THE ORIENTAL SEAS AND
1794 ISLANDS WITH THE COAST OF CONTINENT
.A67 FROM THE ISLE OF CEYLON TO AMOYE IN CHINA
London, 1794

G 7400 Arrowsmith, John.

1832 ASIA
.A77 London, 1832

G 8000 Arrowsmith, John

1832 ASIATIC ARCHIPELAGO
.A77 London, 1832

G 8005 Bellin, Le Sieur

1781 CARTA DELL’INDIA DI LA DAL GANGE CHE CONTIENE
.B45 LI REGNI DI SIAM, TUNQUIN PEGU, AVA, ARACAN, &c.
Venetia, 1781

18 / March 2003 Bulletin of the Burma Studies Group

G 8025 Bellin, Le Sieur
1764 CARTA DES ROYAUMES DE SIAM, TUNQUIN,
.B45 PEGU, AVA, ARACAN, &c.
Paris, 1764

G 7652 Bellin, Le Sieur

.B4 CARTE DU GOLPHE DE BENGALE
1764 Paris, 1764
.B45

G 7724 Bellin, Le Sieur

.M4 PORT ET BOURG DE MERGUI
1764 Paris, 1764
.B45

G 7400 Bertius, Petrus

1640 CARTE DE L’ASIA
.B472 Paris, 1640

G 7400 Blaeu, Joan

1665 ASIA NOVITER DELINEATA
.B53 Amstelaedami, 1665

G 7650 Blaeu, Joan

1700z MAGNI MOGOLIS IMPERIUM
.B53 Amsterdam? 1700?

G 8000 Blaeu, Willem Janszoon

1640 INDIA QUAE ORIENTALIS DICITUR, ET INSULAE
.B55 ADIACENTES
Amsterdam, 1640

G 7625 Blair, John

1768 A MAP OF THE EAST INDIES FROM THE LATEST
.B53 AUTHORITIES AND OBSERVATIONS
London, 1768?

G 8005 Bonne, Rigobert

1780z LA PRESQU’ISLE DE L’INDE AU DELA DU GANGE,
.B65 AVEC L’ARCHIPEL DES INDES, PARTIE OCCIDENTALE
Paris, 178?

G 8000 Bonne, Rigobert

1780 LES INDES ORIENTALIS ET LEUR ARCHIPEL
.B65 Paris, 1780

Bulletin of the Burma Studies Group March 2003 / 19

G 8000 Bonne, Rigobert
1783 LES ISLES PHILIPPINES, CELLE DE FORMOSE, LE
.B65 SUD DE LA CHINE, LES ROYAUMES DE TUNKIN,
DE COCHINCHINE, DE CAMBOGE, DE SIAM, DES LAOS, AVEC PARTIE
DE CEUX DE PEGU ET D’AVA
Neuchâtel, 1783

G 8000 Bowen, Emanuel

1747 A NEW AND ACCURATE MAP OF THE EAST INDIA .B69 ISLANDS
London, 1747

G 8000 Brue, Adrien Hubert

1834 CARTE DU GRAND ARCHIPEL D’ASIE (PARTIE
.B78 NORD-OUEST DE L’OCEANIE)
Paris, 1834

G 7400 Brue, Adrien Hubert

1820 CARTE GENERALE DE L‘ASIE
.B78 Paris, 1820

G 7810 Brue, Adrien Hubert

1821 CARTE GENERALE DE L’EMPIRE CHINOIS ET DU
.B78 JAPON
Paris, 1821

G 7625 Brue, Adrien Hubert

1826 CARTE GENERALE DES INDES EN-DECA AT AN-.B78 DELA DU GANGE,
JUIN 1821, REVUE EN 1826
Paris, 1830?

G 7625 Brue, Adrien Hubert

1830 CARTE GENERALE DES INDES EN-DECA ET AU-
.B78 DELA DU GANGE
Paris, 1830?

G 7400 Brue, Adrien Hubert

1820 CARTE GENERALE DE L’ASIE
.B78 Paris, 1820

G 7650 Cary, John

1806 A NEW MAP OF HINDOOSTAN FROM THE
.C37 LATEST AUTHORITIES
.C37 London, 1806

20 / March 2003 Bulletin of the Burma Studies Group

G 8000 Cary, John
1801 A NEW MAP OF THE EAST INDIA ISLES FROM
.C37 THE LATEST AUTHORITIES
London, 1801

G 8000 Chatelain, Henri Abraham

1719 CARTE DES INDES, DE LA CHINE ET DES ILES
.C47 DE SUMATRA, JAVA, ETC.
Amsterdam, 1719

G 7625 Clouet, J. B. L.
1791 EMPIRE DU MOGOL
.C56 Paris, 1791

G 7400 Clouet, J. B. L.
1793 ISLES CAPS ET PORTS DE MER DE L’ASIE
.C56 Paris, 1793

G 8000 Cluver, Philip

1667 INDIAE ORIENTALIS ET INSULARUM
.C58 ADICENTIUM ANTIQUE ET NOVA DESCRIPTIO
Wolfenbutiel?, 1667

G 8000 Conder, Thomas

1770z A MAP OF THE EAST INDIA ISLANDS
.C56 ?, 177?

G 8000 Coronelli, Vincenzo

1695 SOUTHEAST ASIA
.C67 Venetia, 1695

G 8005 Dower, John

1838 BIRMAN EMPIRE AND COUNTRIES SOUTH
.D68 EAST OF THE GANGES
London, 1838

G 7800 Dower, John

1838 CHINA AND JAPAN
.D68 London, 1838

G 8070 Dower, John

1850 EAST INDIA ISLES
.D68 London, 1840-50?

Bulletin of the Burma Studies Group March 2003 / 21

G 8000 DuVal, Pierre
1684 LA CHINE AVEC L’EMPIRE DU MOGOL,
.D88 LES PRESQU’ILES ET LES ISLES DE L‘ASIA
Paris, 1684

G 7625 Fer, Nicolas de

1705 LES VRAYS INDES DITS GRANDS INDES OU
.F47 ORIENTALES
Paris, 1705

G 8000 Galvao, Antonio D.

1729 D’INDIAANZE LANSCHAPPEN
.G35 Leyden, 1729

G 8001 Goos, Pieter

.P5 PASCAERT VAN T’OOSTER GEDEELITE VAN
1650z OOST INDIEN VAN C. COMORIN TOT
.G66 ?, 165?

G 7400 Guthrie, William

1785 ASIA ACCORDING TO THE BEST
.G87 AUTHORITIES
London, 1785

G 8000 Hall, Sidney

1828 EAST INDIA ISLANDS
.H35 London, 1828

G 7400 Hasius, Johann Matthias

1744 ASIA SECUNDUM LEGITIMAS PROJECTIONIS
.H33 STEREOGRAPHICAE REGULAS
Norimbergai?, 1744

G 7400 Hondius, Hendrick

1631 ASIA RECENS SUMMA CURA DELINEATA
.H65 Amsterdam, 1631

G 7400 Hondius, Hendrick

1650z ASIA RECENS SUMMA CURA DELINEATA
.H65 Amstelodami, 165?

G 8000 Hondius, Hendrick

1657 INDIA QUAE ORIENTALIS DICITUR ET INSULAE
.H658 Amstelodami, 1657

22 / March 2003 Bulletin of the Burma Studies Group

G 7625 INDES ORIENTALES [OU DU GANGE]
1600z ?, 16??
.I52

G 8000 Jansson, Jan

1657 INDIE ORIENTALIS NOVA DESCRIPTIO
.J3 Amstelodami, 1657

G 7650 Jansson, Jan

1653 MAGNI MOGOLIS IMPERIUM
.J53 Amstelodami, 1653

G 7650 Jansson, Jan

1658 MAGNI MOGOLIS IMPERIUM
.J35 Amstelodami, 1658

G 7645 Jansson, Jan

1657 SINUS GANGETICUS VULGO GOLFO
.J35 DE BENGALA, NOVA DESCRIPTO
Amstelodami, 1657?

G 7400 Janvier, Jean

1780 L’ASIE DEVISEE EN SES PRINCIPAUX ETATS
.J35 Paris, 1780

G 7625 Jefferys, Thomas

1794 A NEW GENERAL MAP OF THE EAST INDES
.J44 London, 1794

G 7400 Jenner, Thomas H.

1666 A NEW AND EXACT MAP OF ASIA AND THE
.J45 ISLANDS THEREUNTO BELONGING
?, 1666

G 7400 Jode, Cornelius De

1593 ASIA PARTIUM ORBIS MAXIMA
.J62 ?, 1593

G 8000 Johnston, Alexander Keith

1849 S. E. PENINSULA AND MALAYSIA
.J63 Edinburgh, Scotland, 1849

G 8000 Kitchin, Thomas

1770 A GENERAL MAP OF THE EAST INDIES AND
.K57 THAT PART OF CHINA WHERE THE EUROPEANS. . .
London?, 177?

Bulletin of the Burma Studies Group March 2003 / 23

G 7625 Kitchin, Thomas
1770z AN ACCURATE MAP OF THE EAST INDIES FROM
.K57 THE LATEST IMPROVEMENTS AND REGULATED
BY ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATIONS
London?, 177?

G 7400 Lapie, Pierre

1817 ASIE: DEDICE ET PRESENTE AU ROI PAR SON TRES
.L35 HUMBLE, TRES OBEISSANT, TRES DEVOUE ET FIDELE SUJET
Paris, 1817

G 8000 Lizars, William Home

1842 EAST INDIA ISLANDS
.L59 Edinburgh, 1842

G 7810 Loon, Johannes Van

1660 IMPERII SINARUM NOVA DESCRIPTIO
.L66 Amstelodami, 1660

G 8000 Lowry, James Wilson

1848 SOUTH EASTERN ASIA [BIRMAH – CHINA – JAPAN]
.L67 London, 1848

G 8000 L’Isle, Guillaume de

1730 CARTE DES INDES ET DE LA CHINE
.L57 Amsterdam, 1730

G 7400 L’Isle, Guillaume de

1723 CARTE D’ASIE
.L57 Paris, 1723

G 8000 Mayer, Tobias

1748 CARTES DES INDES ORIENTALES. . .
.M38 Nurnberg, 1748

G 7400 Mercator, Gerardus

1630 INDIA ORIENTALIS
.M47 Amsterdam, 1630

G 7625 Mercator, Gerardus

1636 INDIA ORIENTALIS
.M47 Amsterdam, 1636

24 / March 2003 Bulletin of the Burma Studies Group

G 7400 Merian, Matthaeus
1646 INDIA ORIENTALIS ET INSULAE ADIECENTES
.M45 Frankfurt am Mayn, 1646

G 7401 Moll, Herman

.P5 A CHART OF YE EAST INDIES, WITH THE
1700z COAST OF PERSIA, CHINA. . .
.M65 ?, 1730

G 8005 Moll, Herman

1730 THE EAST PART OF INDIA, OR INDIA BEYOND THE RIVER GANGES
.M65 London?, 1730

G 7400 Moll, Herman

1729 MAP OF THE CONTINENT OF THE EAST INDIES
.M65 London, 1729

G 7626 Mortier, Pieter D.

.P5 PARTIE OCCIDENTALE D’UNE PARTIE D’ASIE OU SONT LES ISLES DE
1770z ZOCOTORA DE L’AMIRANTE; CARTE PARTICULIER D’UNE PARTIE
.M67 D’ASIE OU SONT LES ISLES E D’ANDEMAON, CEYLAN, LES
MALDIVES
Amsterdam, 17??
2 maps on 1 sheet

G 8000 Pinkerton, John

1813 EAST INDIES ISLES
.P55 London, 1813

G 7401 Ptolemy, 2nd cent.

.S2 [ASIA] 4 maps: INDIA ORIENTALIS, CHINAE
1605 REGNUM, IAPANIA REGNUM, INSULAE PHILIPPINAE
.P78 Douay? 1605?

G 7401 Ptolemy, 2nd cent.

.S2 INDIA ORIENTALIS
1608 Colonia, 1608
.P78

G 8001 Ptolemy, 2nd cent.

.S2 INDIA TERCERA NUOVA TAVOLA
1561 Venetia, 1561
.P76

Bulletin of the Burma Studies Group March 2003 / 25

G 7651 Ptolemy, 2nd cent.
.S2 TABU MODER INDIAE
1535 Lyons, 1535
.P788

G 7626 Ptolemy, 2nd cent.

.S2 TABULA ASIAE XI
1561 Venetia, 1561
c. 1
c. 2

G 7626 Ptolemy, 2nd cent.

.S2 TABULA ASIAE XI
1540 Basilae, 1540
.P76

G 7501 Ptolemy, 2nd cent.

.S2 TABULA ORIENTALIS REGIONIS, ASIAE
1540 SCILICET EXTREMAS COMPLECTENS
.P76 TERRAS & REGNA
Basiliae, 1540

G 7645 Ptolemy – Mercator

.S2 TABULA XI ASIAE, COMPREHENDENS INDIAM 1578 EXTRA GANGEM
.P78 ?, 1578

G 7625 Robert De Vaugondy, Gilles

1751 LES INDES ORIENTALES, OU SONT DISTINGUES
.R62 LES EMPIRES ET ROYAUMES QU’ELLES
CONTIENNENT TIREES DU NEPTUNE ORIENTAL
Paris, 1751

G 7625 Sanson, Nicolas

1693 A GENERAL MAP OF THE EAST-INDES,
.S35 COMPREHENDING THE ESTATES OR
KINGDOMS OF THE GREAT MOGOL
Paris, 1693

G 7400 Sanson, Nicolas

1700z L’ASIE DEVISEE EN SES PRINCIPALES REGIONS. . .
.S33 Paris, 1700

26 / March 2003 Bulletin of the Burma Studies Group

G 7625 Sanson, Nicolas
1654 PARTIE MERIDIONALE DE L’INDE EN DEUX
.S35 PRESQU’ISLES, L’UNE DECA ET L’AUTRE DELA LE
GANGE
Paris, 1654

G 7400 Schenk, Pieter

1700z ASIA ACCURATISSIME DESCRIPTA EX OMNIBUS,
.S35 QUAE HACTEMUS EXITERUNT IMPRIMUS VIRI
AMPLISS. NICOLAI WITSEN.
Amstelae, 170?

G 8001 Seller, John

.P5 A CHART OF THE EASTERNMOST PART OF THE
1716 EAST INDIES AND CHINA. . .
.S45 London, 1716

G 7400 Seutter, Matthaus

1744 ASIA, CUM OMNIBUS IMPERIIS PROVINCIIS STATIBUS ET INSULIS
.S48 Augsburg, 1744

G 8000 Smith, Charles, of London, Mapseller

1808 EAST INDIA ISLES
.S55 London, 1808

G 8000 Smith, Charles, of London, Mapseller

1820 EAST INDIES ISLES
.S57 London, 1820

G 7400 Speed, John

1626 ASIA, WITH THE ISLANDS ADJOYNING DESCRIBED, THE ATIREOF
.S64 THE PEOPLE AND TOWNES OF IMPORTANCE
London, 1626

G 7720 Surveyor General’s Office

.A1 GEOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THE BURMESE EMPIRE
1824 Calcutta, 1824
.H365 [oversize map]

G 7400 Tirion, Isaak

1735 NOUVELLE CARTE DE L’EMPIRE DE LA
.T57 CHINE ET LES PAIS CIRCONVOISINS
Amsterdam, 1735

Bulletin of the Burma Studies Group March 2003 / 27

G 7645 Valck, G. (Gerard)
1717 SINUS GANGETICUS, VULGO GOLFO DE
.J35 BENGALA, NOVA DESCRIPTIO

G 7625 Robert D. Vaugondy, Gilles

1779 LES INDES ORIENTALES, OU SONT. . .
.R62 Venise, 1779

G 8000 Visscher, Nicolaes

1695 INDIAE ORIENTALIS, NEC NON INSULARUM
.V57 ADIACENTIUM NOVA DESCRIPTIO
Paris, 1695

G 7625 Wells, Edward

1700 A NEW MAP OF THE EAST INDIES, TAKEN FROM
.W45 MR. DE FER’S MAP OF ASIA
Oxford, 1700

G 8000 Wilkinson, Robert

1794 AN ACCURATE MAP OF THE ISLANDS AND
.W55 CHANNELS BETWEEN CHINA AND NEW HOLLAND
London, 1794

G 7400 Wit, Frederick de

1662 ACCURATISSIMA TOTIUS ASIAE TABULA
.W58 Amstelodami, 1662

G 7400 Wit, Frederick de

1700 ACCURATISSIMA TOTIUS ASIAE TABULA IN
.W57 OMNES PARTES DIVISA
Amstelodami,1700?

G 8000 Wit, Frederick de

1662 TABULA INDIAE ORIENTALIS
.W578 Amsterdam, 1662

G 7810 Wyld, James

1842 MAP OF CHINA
.W95 London, 1842

28 / March 2003 Bulletin of the Burma Studies Group

Unprocessed as of October 2002

BIRMAN EMPIRE
For Thompson’s New General Atlas
Engraved by Moffatt and Smellie
Edinburgh, ?
[details small villages along the Irrawaddy for the 1st time]

INDIA ORIENTALIS
?, probably 18th cent.?

Pharoah & Co.

TENASSERIM PROVINCE. DISTRICT OF AMHERST
Madras, ??

Pharoah & Co.

TENASSERIM PROVINCE. DISTRICT OF MERGUI
Madras, ??

Pharoah & Co.

TENASSERIM PROVINCE. DISTRICT OF TAVOY
Madras, ??

Bulletin of the Burma Studies Group March 2003 / 29