THE VENEZUELAN BOUNDARY COMMISSION YM 



wlien arl)itration was agreed upon, but the conimi.ssion decided 

 to stop short and print in as complete and systematic form as 

 time permitted the facts then gathered. 



The facts gatliered by the connnission are set forth in three 

 octavo volumes and an atlas comprising ?(> maps. The atlas 

 constitutes volume 4 of the report and was the (ir.^^t volume com- 

 pleted. It is composed, as al)ove stated, of 7G maps, divided into 

 three groups or parts. 



Part I comprises 15 maps, all printed on the same l)a.se. This 

 base maj) was specially compiled and engraved for the connnis- 

 sion. and is designed to represent the latest and best information 

 as to the natural features of the Orinoco-Essequibo region. It is 

 based chiefly on the so-called great map of the colony, dated 

 1875, and published by E. Stanford, of I.ondon, in LS77. Various 

 other maps were also made use of in its cominlation. The dis- 

 puted territory along the seacoast is so differently shown on maps 

 of high authority that a compromise seemed impossible, and 

 accordingly two different maps of the same tract are shown side 

 by side on the base map. INIap 1 shows various boundarv lines 

 proj^osed or claimed, map 2 the forests and savannas, map 3 the 

 principal drainage basins, and map 4 the geology of the region 

 as far as known. Maps 5 to 14 are historical maps, showing 

 Euro))ean occupation at various dates from the earliest down to 

 1814. '* These eleven historical maps," says Professor Burr, 

 " have been prepared to illustrate my report on the evidence of 

 Dutch official documents as to occupation and claims in the re- 

 gion between the Essequibo and the Orinoco, and are an attempt 

 to show graj^hically the conclusions reached by that report." It 

 may be noted in passing that if title to the disputed tract is to 

 be determined b}' occupatUm, ihe^e maps showing occupation are 

 of great significance and importance. 



Part II of the atlas comprises 41 maps, facsimile reproductions 

 of the "mother maps" of the region — produced during a i)eriod 

 of about 300 years. Volume 3 of the commission's report con- 

 tains a ])aper b}-^ the secretary, Mr Severe Mallet-Prevost, on 

 the Cartographical Testimony of Geographers. The 41 maps 

 mentioned illustrate that report and exhibit the gradual evolu- 

 tion of our geographical knowledge of the disi)uted area, and 

 also the evolution of the various boundary lines. It constitutes 

 an interesting and instructive group of maps and makes avail- 

 al^le for students a number of scarce ones. 



