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9-08-2015, 09:21

Konscak’s Hand Drawn Maps of California

Based on the first expedition, KonScak, in 1746, compiled his first map that shows part of the peninsula which he had visited.20 He carried out extensive measurements which confirmed the title in his diary, “Report on the trip which was to survey the eastern coast of California to its eventual limits with the Colorado River complied by Father Fernando Consag...” It is a hand drawn map, a copy of which, based on KonScak’s original, was made by California missionary Pedro Maria Nascimben (1703-1754) under the title of “Seno de Californias Y su Costa Orinetal nuevamente descubierta y registrada Desde el Cabo de la Virgines basta su Termino que es Rio Colorado por el P. Fernando Consag de la Compatia de Jesus Missionero de Californias 1746 (Fig. 1.6).”21

We can learn something about his work on the maps from the text of his diary. For example, on the way he did not perform measurements of latitude (note dated 25th July), but he knew the exact position of individual sites (on 9th June, states that he started from San Carlos, located at 28° northern latitude). From this we can conclude that he used the map of some of his predecessors, which had a coordinated grid. By all accounts, this was the map of California made by Eusebio Francisco Kino, probably Kino’s version from 1701. Namely, the spatial extent and content of Kino’s map largely overlaps with KonScak’s hand drawn maps from 1746.22 However, there are also many differences - Kino’s map extends south to 25° latitude and north to 35° and KonScak’s covers the area between 27° and 33° 30' (Fig. 1.5).

So, KonScak undoubtedly utilized Kino’s template. On this template, he had to insert new toponyms, and correct Kino’s errors, especially those related to the contours of the land in the Northern Gulf of California, as well as those pertaining to the islands inside the California Sea (Mar de Californias). The scale of KonScak’s map is expressed in Spanish and French miles, the measurements also used by Kino, and the geographic grid is indicated only for latitude. However, there are differences in the latitude of which they both indicate the scale along the left edge of the map. San Ignacio, on Kino’s map, was located at approximately 27° northern latitude and on KonScak’s, it was drawn at 28°. So, between their measurements of latitude, there is a difference of about 1°, but Kino’s accuracy is better (KonScak’s measurements had a constant error of about 1°).

All toponyms mentioned in KonScak’s diary are, in fact, noted on his map for the first time. Namely, Kino only generally noted the names of peaks in the hinterland for Lower California and the names of only a few missionary outposts. Most of the toponyms on KonScak’s map refer to the names of bays, capes and islands and only a few colony names. He highlighted the localities of sources of drinking water (aquaje) with particular attention. As with Kino’s, KonScak’s map shows a very schematic method of molehills to show the relief of the land. The coastline on KonScak’s map is very indented and shown with a lot of detail in relation to the generalized view that is found on Kino’s template. KonScak’s particularly enhanced representation of the entire northern Gulf of California with the wetlands of the mouth of the Colorado River are, for the first time, accurately mapped on his map. KonScak also achieved significant progress in the description of the island of Isla Angel de la Guarda and the other islands of the California Sea (his map is the first to note the existence of a rocky island in front of the Bay of San Felipe, which today is named after him, Isla Consag). Many places which, until that time, had not been

Fig. 1.5 Map of E. Kino, 1701 (Provided by: Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps)

Marked on maps received names: Purgatorio Bay, San Juan de Pablo, San Pedro y Pablo, and San Felipe de Jesus; whilst many others, which already had names, appeared for the first time on the map.

Besides the aforementioned hand drawn maps of the eastern coast of the peninsula, there are also a few hand drawn copies of Konscak’s maps that show

Fig. 1.6 Map of Ferdinand KonsCak, 1746, published in Venegas-Burriel (Provided by: Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps)

The whole of the peninsula and which later served as a template for Burriel’s printed version of the map. This and all its other variants carry the same title as the previously described map which depicts only the east coast of California. However, since it is clear that the map of the east coast came into existence during the expedition of 1746, with the hand drawn map which shows the entire peninsula, there remains something unknown. Namely, the map is dated in 1746, from which it can be concluded that KonScak also mapped the southern part of the peninsula by that year, but we have no direct evidence of that. It is known that after arriving in San Ignacio, KonsCak traveled the peninsula conducting visits or going to neighboring missions, especially Loreto. However, for that period of his work between 1732 and 1746, we have no confirmation that could decisively tell us about his cartographic work in that part of the peninsula. His diary describes the southern part of the peninsula, which indicates that this part of California was well known to him, but mapping is not explicitly mentioned. Therefore, it remains to be confirmed whether the representation of the southern part of the peninsula was the result of KonScak’s mapping, or whether it was taken from the maps of his predecessors.

Comparing the maps of his predecessors, especially those of Eusebio Kino, it is immediately visible that KonScak’s map of the southern part of the peninsula has many more details in showing the configuration of the coast and islands through the numerous toponyms. So Kino’s map of the southeastern part of the peninsula from 168923 Or the map “Nuevo Navara” from 171024 would have served him only as basic orientations, nevertheless the data on KonScak’s map is obviously the result of detailed personal field observations. This can be confirmed by the comparison of toponyms that KonScak’s “DescripcicSn” contains. Namely that manuscript contains a series of toponyms that Kino did not mention and that all appear on KonScak’s map. In this way, the text of “DescripcicSn” provided the key to the definitive confirmation that KonScak personally carried the research of the southern part of Baja California and on the basis of which he mapped that part of the peninsula (Figs. 1.7 And 1.8).

It is interesting to note the fact that the copy of the hand drawn maps preserved in Seville feature very few noticeable corrections from its author or copyist (Nascimbien?). In this way, the names of several rivers on the west coast of the peninsula were corrected. It is also notable that, in the far south of the peninsula, the names of several marked missions are missing - alongside the San Jose de Cabo mission with a church symbol is only noted “Mission” and in the position of the Santa Rosa mission is only drawn a church symbol without any inscription. Therefore, the map seems to be an unfinished work. However, every toponym that we come across on KonScak’s map of the east coast of California was also literally assigned on his map of the entire peninsula. This additionally confirms KonScak’s authorship of all of the data on the hand drawn map of Baja California from 1746.

KonScak’s map “Seiio de California y su costa oriental” played a special role after which it was officially accepted that a Californian peninsula existed. His map of California was evaluated by the Spanish court and, on that basis, it was officially concluded that California was a peninsula. Although F. E. Kino and J. de Ugarte had

Fig. 1.7 Map of peninsula by Kino, 1702, in Venegas-Burriel (Source: Burrus, 1967)

Fig. 1.8 Map of peninsula by Konsciak, published in english version of Venegas-Burriel (Provided by: Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps)

Claimed this finding on their own maps before him, the official position of the Spanish government changed after KonsCak’s research and the publication of his maps.

His map, together with his diary known as “Derrotero,” was printed in the Venegas-Burriel’s book “Noticia de la California” (first edition published in Madrid, 1757). Namely, in order to prepare the work and corresponding maps of California, Burriel employed the help of Pedro Maria Nascimben for the purpose of making multiple copies of both KonScak’s maps. Based on these copies, Burriel gave shape to two copper plates of the maps, one that showed only the east coast and the other showing the whole peninsula. The first plate that shows only part of the peninsula was left with its original title, “Seno de Californias...,” but this was changed in 1747.25 The map that showed the whole of the peninsula was given the title “Mapa de la California, su golfo y provincias fronteras en el Continente de Nueva Espagna” and dated 1757. 26 This map, on which he decorated its outer edge with elaborate engravings of the animals and natives of California, is one of the most beautiful maps of the time. Various versions of KonScak’s maps are included in all later editions of Venegas-Burriel’s works, as well as many other widely distributed books at the time, such as “Nachrichten von der Amerikanischen Halbinsel Californien,” by Jesuit Jacob Bagaert (Manheim, 1772), “Storia dela California” by Mexican Jesuit Francesco Clavigero (Venice, 1789) or Denis Diderot’s monumental work “Encyclopedie” (Paris, 1772).



 

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