48 MAPS AND THEIR MAKERS 



This map is circular, and although almost a hundred years 

 later, it is clearly related to the Atlas of 1375. This resemblance 

 in the content of the two maps strengthens the contention that 

 the latter was derived from a circular prototype. The nomen- 

 clature and the numerous legends, mostly in Catalan with a 

 few in corrupt Latin, are often very similar to those of the 1375 

 Atlas. In some instances the legends are more complete, in 

 others they are less detailed; they suggest therefore not direct 

 copying but a common source. This similarity is also evident 

 in the delineation of the main features — most of those in the 

 1375 Atlas are to be found on the Este map. 



The northern portions of Asia and Europe, which lay 

 outside the limits of the Catalan Atlas, significantly, contain 

 very little detail. On the southern coastline of Asia there are 

 some differences, generally slight, between the two maps. The 

 peninsula of India is much less pronounced on the Este map, 

 and to the south is the large island of 'Salam' or 'Silan' (Ceylon) 

 which fell outside the limits of the Catalan Atlas. A legend 

 refers to its wealth in rubies and other precious stones. There 

 can be no doubt however that the two outlines are funda- 

 mentally identical. To the east is the island of 'J^va', as on the 

 Catalan Atlas. The island of 'Trapobana' is much enlarged, 

 and is placed on the south-eastern margin of the map. The 

 surrounding ocean, the 'Mar deles indies' is filled with numer- 

 ous nameless and featureless islands. 



Africa occupies most of the southern half of the map. The 

 continent ends in a great arc, conforming to the circular frame 

 of the map, and extending eastwards to form the southern 

 boundary of the Indian Ocean. On the west, a long narrow 

 gulf from the circumfluent ocean almost severs this southerly 

 projection from northern Africa. The southern interior is 

 blank save for the legend "Africa begins at the river Nile in 

 Egypt and ends at Gutzola in the west: it includes the whole 

 land of Barbaria, and the land in the south". This outline and 

 legend have been interpreted to imply some knowledge of the 

 southern extremity of Africa, and perhaps of a practicable 

 route from the west to the Indian Ocean. 



That the great western gulf reflects some knowledge of the 

 Gulf of Guinea is more probable. The design of the northern 



