Carte Generale du Cours de Gange ed du Gagra

Lovely example of this important map by Tiefenthaler and Duperron detailing the course of the Ganges River from its source to its Delta. Also included is its major tributary, the Ghaghara River.

The research and drawing of this map was done by the Jesuit, Joseph Tiefenthaler, who spent map of his life travelling in India. A polymath who studied geography, linguistics, astronomy and mathematics among other subjects, he regularly corrected the geographical positions of major cities, temples, towns and villages in the sub-continent and kept copious notes. One of his most notable achievements was this map of the course of the Ganges which completely revised and updated European knowledge of this whole region.

Tiefenthaler actually included six maps on one sheet; one principal diagram showing the course of the river sourced from his own travels and surveys together with five further smaller insets which either focused on specific sections of the map or were used to expand the knowledge shared by the map. Figure II shows a close-up of the source of the river at the Gangotri Glacier, gushing through a rock formation famously likened to the mouth of a cow. Fig. III shows Lake Mansarovar (Mansaroar), believed to be the source of the Ghaghara River, a major tributary of the Ganges. Fig IV is based on an Indian map, showing secondary tributaries around the volcano of Doulou Bassandar. Fig V is based on another Indian map showing a secondary source for the Ghaghara River as it runs through the Himalayas and finally, Fig. VI shows a 1729 European map of the source of the Ganges by P. Souciet, highlighting Tiefenthaler’s achievement in comparison to previous knowledge.

An uncommon feature on this map is its acknowledgment of the extensive use of Indian cartography. Tiefentaller made it a point to meet Indian geographers and cartographers whenever possible during his travels and purchased their maps. Judging by this map, he made thorough use of their knowledge. Much of the nomenclature on the map is multilingual, including Persian (Farsi), particularly on Fig. IV. A panel on the upper left is a series of geographical instructions and statements which are written in Persian, French and an attempted transliteration from the Persian.

In his mid-seventies, Tiefenthaler realized he would not be able to publish his life’s work so he sent his documents to his fellow traveller and friend, Abraham-Hyacinthe Anquetil du Perron or Duperron as he was usually known. Another polymath with the same interests, the two met in India in the 1760s and began a friendship. Upon receiving Tiefenthaler’s manuscripts, Duperron compiled, edited and published them under the title “Recherches Historiques et Geographiques sur L’Inde”. This map, also edited and compiled by Duperron, was issued separately in 1784, one year before Tiefenthaler died.

A fascinating scientific document which summerises the work of a truly intrepid traveler, explorer and geographer, largely forgotten in modern cartographic studies. [IC2984]