MACAO ROADS, 1810.

By D.Ross and P.Maughan

This reproduction is taken from an original document, held within the Archives of the UK Hydrographic Office, Taunton, Somerset.

The Honourable east India Company was formed in 1600 to increase trade between England and the East Indies. During the early period of its development it was consistently involved in struggles with both the Dutch and Portuguese for commercial dominance of the spice trade. It eventually became the monopoly trading body in the region and went on to act as agent for the British government in India. During the mid 18th century the pattern of trade was begining to change and tea became a much sought after commodity. The East India Company invested heavily in arranging surveys of the coast of China and charts of this major trading area were published over a number of years.

This chart of Macao and Hong Kong is typical of the work produced by officers of the Honourable East India Company. Hong Kong was of no real significance at this time, and it would be another 30 years before Britain took possession of the colony.