|
Raper's maps
are student examples of nautical charts he produced whilst on board HMS
Sirius. All naval officers, particularly those sailing into uncharted
waters, were required to draw these maps. All officers, including midshipmen,
were required to undertake studies in navigation, astronomy and drafting
to enable them to prepare charts of oceans, new coastlines and harbours
(with soundings) for future reference. While most of Raper's maps are
copies of others produced by officers on board, two, notably of Careening
Cove and Norfolk Island, show an attention to detail in the interpretation
of coastlines that demonstrate his skill as a draftsman.
 |
|

Plan of Port Praya ...
coloured ms. map; 17.1 x 11.3 cm
Map Collection RM 3455
|
|
This is a map of Port Praia which is located on Santiago, one of the
Cape Verde Islands which lie off the west coast of North Africa. It
is neither signed nor dated and at its foot are the words Observations
in the Sirius. It is possible that Raper included this note because
when the First Fleet passed the Cape Verde Islands between 18 and
20 June 1787 it was prevented by the wind from landing at Port Praia
and Raper did not pass near the islands on his journey back to England. |
|
|
|

A North & South Chart from the Lands End to the Equator
coloured ms. map originally drawn across two leaves,
now on two sheets; each 23.2 x 20.3 cm
Map Collection RM 3452/1 RM 3452/2
|
|
|
The Sirius left England on 16 May and reached the Equator
on 15 July 1787 and these two maps, now separated but originally
drawn across two leaves, were probably compiled during the voyage
or shortly after arrival at Port Jackson. Alternate broken and unbroken
lines show the distance travelled each day, arrows indicate the
direction of the wind, and the date when the Tropic of Cancer was
crossed is given.
The
maps are unsigned and undated. Though Raper probably began to draw
from the time the Fleet left England in May 1787, he did not begin
to sign and date his finished work until 1789perhaps signalling
an initial lack of confidence in his ability.
|
 |
|

[Chart of the South Atlantic with the Track of the Sirius ]
coloured ms. map; 20.2 x 16.7 cm
Map Collection RM 3453
|
|
|
The presumption is that this unsigned and undated map is a continuation
of A North and South Chart from the Land's End to the Equator but
the eastern half of this sheet is missing. This is the one on which
the signature and date would most likely have been recorded, in
the lower right hand corner.
This
western half of the sheet shows the route of the Sirius from
the Equator south across the Atlantic Ocean to Rio de Janeiro and
east towards the Cape of Good Hope.
The
recorded dates for this part of the voyage show Sirius crossing
the Equator on 14 July 1787, arriving in Rio de Janeiro on 6 August
1787, and leaving there almost a month later, on 4 September, headed
for Cape Town.
|
 |
|

Plan of Rio de Janeiro, Coast of Brasil
coloured ms. map; 20.8 x 15.9 cm
Map Collection RM 3454
|
|
|
This is a map of Guanabara Bay which the First Fleet entered on
7 August 1787 anchoring about 1 1/2 miles off
the city. Raper, however, has signed and dated this map 1791. It is on record that from
13 March 1790 to February 1791 Raper was on Norfolk Island, that
from February to 27 March 1791 he was at Port Jackson and that from
27 March 1791 to the end of 1791 he was on board the Waaksamheyd. The difference between the date of the visit and the date on the map is explained by the fact that when Raper
used a date to record an event, he incorporated it into the title. When he recorded the date he completed a drawing, he added it after his signature.
Both
Philip Gidley King and John Hunter recorded descriptions of Rio
de Janeiro in the journals they kept of the First Fleet's voyage.
The
harbour is spacious and safe and ye largest I ever saw except
Trincomalay. It is very well defended yet I think ten sail of
the line and 5000 troops would give a good account of the Gold
crosses with which their churches are well furnished in a short
time, if well conducted ...
Philip Gidley King
The
harbour of Rio de Janeiro may be known when you are off it, by
a remarkable hill at its entrance, called Pao d'Asucar, from its
resemblance to a loaf of sugar; but there is a hill to the south-east
of the harbour, which is called by some the False Sugar-Loaf;
but which, as you view it from the eastward, I think has more
the appearance of a church with a short spire steeple; this hill
points out the harbour to ships at a distance, much better than
Pao d'Asucar ...
John Hunter
|
 |
|

Plan of Table Bay, Cape of Good Hope
coloured ms. map; 19.8 x 16.8 cm
Map Collection RM 3457
|
|
|
This unsigned and undated map of the harbour at Table Bay, South
Africa, shows the settlement at Cape Town where the First Fleet,
with Raper on board the Sirius, anchored from 14 October to
13 November 1787 while taking on board supplies for the journey
across the Southern Ocean. Raper made a subsequent visit to Table
Bay where he was in port from 22 November 1791 to 18 January 1792,
this time on board the Waaksamheyd.
The
Cape Town is situated on an amphitheatre at the head of Table
Bay, the Table Hill, Devils Hill, Sugar Loaf and Lyons Rump form
the Amphitheatre which has a most picturesque appearance. The
streets are wide and drawn at right angle and canals running thro
them.
Phillip Gidley King
|
 |
|

Plan of Botany Bay New South Wales
coloured ms. map; 20.1 x 15.8 cm
Map Collection RM 3456
|
|
|
The Sirius with Raper on board arrived in Botany Bay on 20
January 1788. During August and September of the following year
a map of it was compiled by Captain John Hunter and it was this
map which Raper used as a basis for his copy. He has signed and
dated it 1791. It records bathymetric soundings and the location
of some landmarks such as Cape Banks and Point Solander.
William
Bradley also made a copy of Hunter's map. Bradley's undated map
has a scale-bar and soundings up the creeks from the Bay, together
with an indication of the soil conditions in the surrounding land
areas.
Two
interesting features of this map are the scroll cartouche in which
Raper has written the title of this work and the decorative flourish
he has given to the scale-bar.
...
at 10 o'clock the Governor, Lieut Governor & Capt Hunter went
over to the south side of ye bay a little within Point Sutherland,
& I was ordered with Lieut Dawes of the marines, to explore
all ye South side of ye bay, & trace the two inlets on the
South side as high as possible.
Phillip Gidley King
|
 |
|

Plan of Port Jackson, Coast of New South Wales
coloured ms. map; 25.6 x 15.9 cm
Map Collection RM 3458
|
|
|
Raper has signed and dated this map 1791. Instead of a scroll cartouche
the title appears to have been carved into a rocky sandstone headlanda confirmation perhaps that he now had sufficient confidence
in his mapping skills to add decorative touches when he was drawing
plans for his own, and not for official, use.
As
noted in the title of this work it was based on a survey carried
out by John Hunter in 1788 immediately after the arrival of the
First Fleet.
...
8th [Feb] Capt Hunter finished the survey. He says
it contains a Number of very good Coves fit for any Vessel to
Anchor in with the greatest safety indeed he says it is the finest
harbour in the known world the Cove in which we are is called
Sydney Cove none of the rest is yet name, the Chart of the Harbour
is kept very secret for fear it may get into some persons hands
who might have it Publish'd in England before the Chart that is
going to the Admiralty.
Newton Fowell
|
 |
|

Carreening Cove
coloured ms. map; 20.3 x 14.4 cm
Map Collection RM 3459
|
|
|
This signed and dated map of Carreening Cove (now known as
Mosman Bay) shows the wharf where the Sirius was unloaded
and repaired. It also indicates where fresh water supplies are located,
relief features are shown pictorially and it records bathymetric
soundings in regular east-west lines. The latter suggests Raper's
map was a training exercise in surveying.
The
Sirius arrived in Careening Cove on 19 June 1789 for repairs
to her lower decks and hull and transferred to Sydney Cove in early
November once they were completed.
The
Sirius had, in the gale of wind which she met with off Tasman's
head, sustained much more damage and was upon inspection, found
to have been weakened much more than was at first conjectured.
A convenient retired cove on the north shore being fixed on for
the purpose of a careening cove, she dropped down and took possession
of it toward the latter end of the month.
David Collins
This
is another of Raper's maps where he has placed the title in a scroll
cartouche. The fact that the foot of the scroll is curled up and
hides the longitudinal measurement suggests he may have been unsure
of its accuracy.
|
 |
|

Norfolk Island
coloured ms. map; 15.8 x 9.8 cm
Map Collection RM 3460
|
|
|
The Sirius with Raper on board arrived at Norfolk Island on
13 March 1790. After disembarking the convicts at Cascade Bay, the Sirius was forced by wind changes to move to Sydney Bay to complete the unloading of stores. The blue and yellow flag indicating it was safe to
land was flying but a sudden and unanticipated shift in wind and
tide resulted in the ship running aground and being wrecked on a
reef—the incident recorded by Raper in his The Melancholy Loss
of H.M.S. Sirius off Norfolk Island March 19th 1790
This
unsigned and undated map has two views of Norfolk Island on the
one sheet. That on the left hand side is an enlarged view of the
land between Point Ross and Ball Bay and shows the route of the
Sirius from Sydney Cove to Norfolk Island via Phillip Island
and Nepean Island while that on the right features Norfolk Island.
Relief is shown pictorially and bathymetric soundings are recorded.
Raper
remained on Norfolk Island until 12 February 1791 when he and the
rest of the Sirius' crew left on the Supply to return
to Sydney.
|
|