国立情報学研究所 - ディジタル・シルクロード・プロジェクト
『東洋文庫所蔵』貴重書デジタルアーカイブ

STRAHLENBERG'S GREAT MAP OF NORTHERN ASIA.

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It is of interest to note the comparatively correct idea he had of the general orographic arrangement in Asia. To make clear the »elevations and declivities» he tells

us the rate in which the ground is rising or falling for travellers coming from different sides. We know, he says, not only from Marco Polo, Goës and others, but also from travelling Tatars, that those who approach Tartary from Persia and India are three days on the road before they reach the heights of Tartary viâ »Belur and Pamer».

Let us now turn our attention to his map, the southern half of which I have in reproduction, 4/5 of the original size. In the upper corner to the left, not visible on Pl. XLIX, he has a dedication to King Frederic of Sweden. In the lower corner to the left is the title: Nova Descri)5tio Geograj5hica Tattaria, Magna, lam orientalis quam occi- dentalis in ftarticularibus et generalibus Territoriis una cum Delineatione totius Imfterii Russici imprimis Siberia, accurate ostensa. Baron A. E. Nordenskiöld who by his own arctic journeys was familiar with Siberia and a brilliant student of old maps, says of Strahlenberg's map that it is a valuable original work, in which a man with a knowledge of topographical drawing has added his own experience to all the most important facts known of these countries in his days. The first copy was completed before Strahlenberg's return from his captivity in 172 I . »It was sent to a merchant at Moscow, but when he died shortly afterwards, the map happened to be shown to the Tsar Peter, who did not return it». Strahlenberg, however, who was still in possession of his original sketch, spared neither pains nor expense, during the last three years of his captivity, in travelling far into the country in order to observe everything of note with his own eyes, and to set it down geometrically for a new map. After his return home he saw to the engraving of this map and published it in Das Nord-und Ostlich Theil von Europa and Asia, Stockholm 1730. Strahlenberg was also the first to determine positions astronomically in northern Asia.'

F. G. KRAMP says that Strahlenberg's map »in many respects superseded Witsen's work».2 So far as Eastern Turkestan and our regions further south are concerned I would add, that the two maps cannot be spoken of at the same time. For

I Nordenskiöld: Periplus, p. 98. In his preface Strahlenberg explains the causes of the delay with the publication of his map. He begs the reader to remember that his health after a captivity of 13 years and interminable journeys could not be the best, and that he therefore could not carry out his work with the speed he had wished, Hinsonderheit da meine vorige zu zweyen mahlen verfertigte Charten mir als ein Muster von Händen gekommen, so dass alles wieder aufs neue gezeichnet, und ins reine gebracht werden müssen ...» — It was in 1723 that Strahlenberg returned home. For in 1 7 2 1 he left Tobolsk together with Messerschmidt, and followed the Irtish upwards to Tara, and further to Tomsk. Here they separated and Strahlenberg travelled to Narim on the Ob and other places. In 1722 they travelled together to Krasnoyarsk. Then Str. went alone on the Jenisei to Jeniseisk. On his return to Krasnoyarsk he received orders to hurry to Tobolsk, as the prisoners could now return home to Sweden. Pallas says of the last separation of the two friends : »Den 13 May ging er auch nach Tobolsk ab, und das war der Anfang von Messerschmiedt's fataler hypochondrischer Periode. 'Ich schied mich, sagt er, von dem frommen, redlichen, fleissigen treuen Tabbert (Strs. name before he got his title of nobility), meinem einzigen Freunde und Beystande mit vielen Thränen. Nun bin ich ohne Umgang und Hülfe, ganz verlassen'.» Neue Nordische Beyträge, St. Petersburg und Leipzig 1782, p. r oo.

2 Remarkable Maps, IV.

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