Map of the Benin shore

Title Leupe: Pascaerte van de Bocht van Benin. Tary Ardra en Rio de Lagos, van Acra tot Cabo Formosa.

The kingdom of Benin was already known in the Dutch Republic since Piter de Marees published his Beschrijvinge en historische verhael vant Gout koninckrijck van Gunea in 1602. This account was largely based on the information provided by the sailor Dierick Ruijters. This map which was printed nearly a century later (the date can be derived from the patent claimed by the printer) does not reveal much more than the harbours and two profiles of rocky shores. Only the Nokoue lake, or as it is called here Curamo lake, is elaborated through indications of cities and mud banks and the comment that the inhabitants partake in 'much fishing'. In contrast, the Yewa River to the Benin capital is drawn roughly which shows the image of the kingdom was still shaped by a naval perspective offered by skippers rather than diplomats.

North is above.

Scale-bar of 30 German miles = 161 ‘strepen’.