DEVELOPMENT OF THE CARTOGRAPHY OF AMERICA. 287 



researches on the broad ocean, as furnished by the surveys of Cortez 

 and Pizarro. And now the idea of a universal official map or "padron" 

 was ouce more reverted to. 



In the year 1526 Ferdinand Columbus received an order to prepare 

 an accurate chart, and this, by a later imperial decree, was to be 

 entitled the "general padron." But when, after the lapse of nine 

 years, a reiterated command was dispatched to the son of the Admiral 

 to complete the work, it must not be concluded that up to that period 

 he had not executed the commission or supplied any map whatever. 

 Nor does this entirely justify the assumption that the Weimaraner 

 general chart of 1527, the first general map, originated with him. The 

 second, designed by Ribero, and the general map of 1527, and that of 

 1529, essentially altered, have both likewise been preserved. The 

 approved type exhibited in each of these charts was henceforth as a 

 general rule steadily adhered to. 



Though the Portuguese occupy a subordinate rank as regards the 

 extent of their contributions to the cartography of America, the dis- 

 tinction is assuredly due them of having first conceived and portrayed 

 the continent of Korth America in its correct and pro^jer contour, 

 exclusive, of course, of the x)olar regions. They were able pilots and 

 expert draftsmen, and not only by their labors, but by their methods, 

 they have exercised a vast influence, especially upon geographical 

 works in German5^ Many of their pilots and draftsmen emigrated 

 secretly from Portugal into Spain and entered into the service of 

 Charles V. Such, for example, were Francisco and Euy Faliero, Jorge 

 and Pedro Eeinel, and Simon de Alcazaba de Sotomayor. Along with 

 these, and even to a greater extent than the latter, Italians emigrated 

 to Spain. Only Columbus, however, with Amerigo and Juan Vespucci, 

 are here mentioned (Harrisse, Cabot, p. 219). Two of the earliest and 

 most important cartographic records, the charts of Cantino and Cane- 

 rio, although supplied or drawn by Italians, are copies of Portuguese 

 originals. Both of these, as also the surveys of the coasts of the New 

 World sent to the Duke Rene of Lothringen, had a far-reaching influ- 

 ence upon scientific cosmography. 



This influence, however, emanates from Italians residing abroad. 

 Harrisse calls attention to the fact (Discovery of North America, 

 p. 270) that cartographers living in Italy only recently, comparatively, 

 took notice of the discoveries of Spaniards and Portuguese in the New 

 World, and with the exception of Johann Ruysch, a German, who copied 

 in its essential details a Portuguese map of the New World for the 

 Roman Ptolemiius of 1508, the Viscount di Maggiolo was the first who 

 brought to Naples a representation of the newly discovered regions, in 

 1511. Cartographic activity in Italy, up to the year 1527, remained 

 dependent upon Portuguese exemplars. Spanish influence is first 

 detected in Maggiolo'a chart of 1527. The French took part in these 

 nautical and cartographic enterprises much later than the three south- 



