118 MAPS AND THEIR MAKERS 



outline recalls maps of the previous century and in part even 

 the vi^orld maps of the later Middle Ages. The geography of the 

 south-eastern interior is confused by Mercator's mistaken 

 belief that the 'river of Canton' must be the classical Ganges. 



South America has a curious quadrilateral outline, which 

 was not corrected until Drake's voyage along the western 

 coast. The width of the northern continent is considerably 

 exaggerated; on the parallel of Newfoundland it amounts to 

 140° of longitude. On the west coast, California is correctly 

 delineated as a peninsula; in the extreme north-west is the 

 narrow strait, 'Streto de Anian', separating America and 

 Asia, which has given rise to much controversy. In the interior, 

 partly obscured by a cartouche, an area of water with the 

 inscription "Mare est dulcium", indicates some knowledge of 

 the Great Lakes, though too far north in relation to the St. 

 Lawrence. The representation of the Arctic region is of 

 particular interest. Mercator provided a special inset map, 

 "as our chart cannot be extended as far as the pole, for the 

 degrees of latitude would finally attain infinity". This shows 

 open water at the Pole, surrounded by a roughly circular, 

 independent land-mass. This representation was in part based 

 on a report ('Inventio fortunatae') now lost, of a certain 

 English minorite of Oxford, Nicholas of Lynn, who in 1360 

 travelled in these parts "with an astrolabe". 



Mercator's map would provide the material for an almost 

 endless commentary, but it must suffice to point out its influence 

 on exploration. It was through channels round the Arctic land 

 that it was hoped to find north-west and north-east passages 

 to Cathay. Drake's plans for his voyage of circumnavigation 

 envisaged the discovery and annexation of part of the southern 

 continent, and his *Nova Albion' lay in the 'Quivira regnum' 

 of north-west America, conveniently placed to control the 

 Strait of Anian. Tasman's circumnavigation of Australia was 

 planned to determine its relation to the hypothetical continent, 

 which continued to intrigue geographers until Cook reduced it 

 to truer proportions. 



This world map was regarded by Mercator as part of a 

 co-ordinated scheme of cartographical research. The world 

 map was to form the basis, and other sections were planned to 



