MARINE. Edward BELCHER (1799-1877). Manuscript,... Lot 379

MARINE. [Edward BELCHER (1799-1877)]. Manuscript, Nautical Documents, [ca. 1850]; notebook, in-4, 60 pages, paperback. Excerpts from Captain Edward Belcher's Narrative of the Voyage of H.M.S. Samarang during the years 1843-46 (London, 1848). Written in French, they contain a wealth of information on navigation between Singapore and Japan, via Borneo, the Celebes Islands, Mindanao, Hong Kong, China and Korea. They are not arranged in the chronological order of the voyage, but by geographical area. At the end are instructions for navigating the Yangtze. It was during this campaign that the Port Hamilton archipelago, mentioned on page 45 of this manuscript, was discovered off the Korean coast. The places or countries mentioned are Singapore, Borneo (Banguay, Balambangan, Unsang), Sulawesi (Slime Island), the Philippines (Tawi Tawi, Sulu Islands, Cagayan Islands, Mindanao, Basilan, Balabac, Damaran, Calamian Islands, Cabra, Panagatan, Panay, Cuyo, Manila, Looc Bay, Labuan, Apo Island, Mindoro, Batan Islands), Korea (Quelpart or Jeju, Port Hamilton or Geomundo), Japan (Meia-Co-Shimah or Miyako-Jima Islands, Port Haddington or Nagura Wan). The name of the ship, the Samarang, is mentioned several times in the manuscript. A complete list of positions determined during the voyage can be found on pp. 48-51, with longitudes calculated in relation to the Paris meridian. Provenance: archives of Gaston de Rocquemaurel.