Maps and Sketches from Tranquebar (1670-1845)

Map of the Danish possessions around Tranquebar, by Matthias Seutter, 1744. National Museum of Denmark — Map of the Danish territory around Tranquebar, by Matthias Seutter, 1744. National Museum of Denmark

Map of Tranquebar by Matthias Seutter, 1756. The map is produced after an original from 1671 by Jacob Storzell. National Museum of Denmark

The National Museum of Denmark contains a small collection of maps and sketches from the Danish era in Tranquebar, including maps of Tranquebar town and Tranquebar district by the German cartographer and map publisher Matthias Seutter (1678-1757), and sketches of everyday life in the Danish quarter from the 1830s by Adele Mourier (1803-1855), the sister of Danish Governor Konrad Emile Mourier, who was Danish governor from 1832-1838.

Sketch of the Parade Ground in front of Fort Dansborg in Tranquebar, by Adele Mourier, 1830s. National Museum of Denmark

In the nearby village, Poreyar lay the governor’s garden estate, c. two kilometres from Tranquebar. The drawing of the garden house is made by Adele Mourier, 1830s. National Museum of Denmark

Numbers on the sketch of the Parade Ground in front of Fort Dansborg in Tranquebar:

1. The guard, who is standing at the gate leading to the fort.
2. The flag of the fort.
3. The lamps at the fort.
4. The bell of the fort.
5. Catamarans; small boats made of wooden logs, used by the fishermen.
6. Toniar; Boat, the size of a yacht.
7. The Strand Gate.
8. The guardhouse.
9. A private house.
10. The sun, rising above the ocean.
11. The greatest pagoda of Tranquebar.
12. The yard of the government house, with its gate (13) to the side street, and its gate to the stables and another yard.
15. The chimney of the kitchen building.
16. A small pagoda close to the government house.
17. Substitute Sepoys with their Gefrieder (corporal).
18. A Selling; A boat for fetching and bringing cargo from the ships.
19. The roofs of the godowns (warehouses) belonging to the gov. house.
20. A well, with its pitcher.

Text: Professor Esther Fihl and Research Assistant Caroline Lillelund, 2015
Web design and supervision: Assistant Curator Bente Gundestrup
Language editing: Research Assistant Manasa Bollempali