Map of Ceylon

According to the Leupe catalogue (NA), the original title reads: Beschryving ende Caarten van den eylande Ceylon.

This map is grouped together with the charts VEL0928(2)-(24); while the plates showing the VOC locations have also been included in this atlas.

Caption in the Leupe catalogue: De [accompanying] beschrijving is in het Neder-duitsch. Het origineel was op last van den Koning van Portugal, door den Generaal van Ceilon in 1606 geschreven. De naam van den vertaler der Hollandsche tekst is onbekend.

Caption in the Leupe catalogue: Facsimile met inleiding E. Reimers NA bibliotheek 196 E4 / [in the front:] volgens aantekening verkregen door ruiling met de Koninklijke Bibliotheek.

The object is tied around with a parchment cover.

Topographical names mentioned of places which are featured on charts in the series (2-24) are: Columbo, Negumbo, Chilao, Putalam, Calpeti/Calepeti, Manar, Iaphanapatam, Triquilimale, Bahia dos Arcos, Batecalou, Tanavare, Mature, Biligao/Beligao, Gale, Alicao, Caleture/Calature, Sofragam, Malvana, Manieravare.

Topographical names of other places mentioned on this chart: Capelo de Frade, Paneva, Vilassem, Rio da Iala, Magama, Valave, Panature, Caimel, Ponta das Pedras, Putalam, Manicravare, Pico de Adam, Quatro Corlas, Balane, Candea.

As Leupe's description indicates, this map, and the description of which it was part, was probably based on a Portuguese original. For such a Portuguese original, see Constantina, Descripçao de Ceilao (1601) in the library of the University of Zaragoza. (inv. nr. Ms-13).

A nearly identical map, most likely of Dutch origin, is to be found in the Library of Congress, inv. nr. G2294.A1 P5 1650