8 February 14, 2004 THE DAILY HERALD www.dailyherald.com OUR NATIONAL HERITAGE THE "WERBATA" MAPS In order to conduct various forms of cultural-historical research, such as the development of a city, historical maps, in addition to literature and file documents, can also produce valuable data. Ever since the 17th century, various beautiful and valuable maps have been made of the Antillean islands, among which is a map of Philipsburg (see photo). The first map of Curaçao on which the shape of the island was correctly depicted was made not not until 1816/1817 by order of the then Governor. Before that time the island was usually depicted too "curved." On the "Manuscript map of the island of Curaçao" plantations and country estates are indicated for the first time. The map was made by military engineer, Captain H.J. Abbring, stationed in Curaçao. In spite of the existence of various maps, it was not exactly known around 1900 how Curaçao was divided among the various owners. Maps of land property had either never been made or insufficiently updated. A Land Registry did not exist. There were usually, though, old alignment letters drawn up with a purchase, an inheritance or a mortgage, but in daily life, they did not play a part. A city dweller simply referred to the number of his lot and a plantation owner described his territory by mentioning the surrounding plantations as had been customary for ages. THE NECESSITY to obtain detailed maps came from a different quarter, however. On the initiative of Governor De Jong van Beek en Donk, who was very much interested in agriculture, repairing the dams that had been largely neglected after the emancipation (1863) and the construction of a series of new dams was started in 1904, on account of which the water supply for agriculture could be improved. The maps made in the 18th and 19th centuries were not sufficiently detailed for use. Besides, the differences in elevation and drops that were so important were only indicated with washed hues (the darker coloured, the steeper). In order to be able to construct the dams in the best spots, the Government decided to have the islands recorded topographically. FOR THIS PURPOSE, the topographer J.V.D. Werbata, who was employed by the Ordinance Survey of the Dutch East Indies, arrived in Curaçao in 1906, fully equipped with measuring and drawing instruments. In the Dutch East Indies, a lot of experience had been gained with mapping the many islands there. Captain L. Lens, from the Netherlands, took care of the triangulation. This meant that a fictitious net of triangles with a total of 45 triangle points were placed across the island. As triangle points mountain tops were usually chosen, as they were well visible from different sides. During a later triangulation, the well-known black and white concrete posts were placed at the triangle points. From the calculated location of the triangle points, the rest of the area within that triangle could subsequently be measured in a detailed manner. TO BE ABLE TO MAKE ACCURATE MAPS, especially in connection with the hilly nature of the territory, it was decided that the maps would be made to a scale of 1:20,000. In 1907, the triangulation was ready, and in 1908 a few pages could be sent to the printer in the Netherlands, after measurements had been done by Werbata. In 1909 Werbata completed his mission and left for the East Indies, after having trained Jonckheer, an inhabitant of Curaçao, who, in cooperation with Lens, was to map the other islands. In 1911, J. Smeulders & Co. in The Hague published the "Topographic map of Curaçao" in 18 pages, measuring 46 x 46 cm; nowadays known as the "Werbata maps." These beautiful and very detailed maps in colour have never been improved, with regard to accuracy, by later topographic maps of the island, made with the help of aerial survey. An example of how detailed Werbata worked appears, among other things, from the manner in which he indicated buildings. By means of colour and manner of drawing, he made a distinction between "stone buildings," "wooden buildings" and "clay cottages." For enclosures or wooden fences, "stone hedges" (slave walls) or "live hedgerows." The maps are therefore extremely informative for historical research. WHAT MAKES the Werbata maps also important is the fact that they were drawn just before the oil industry came to Curaçao and drastically changed the picture around Schottegat with its many country estates and plantations. Except for the whole island, Werbata also made a map of the city, on which the city districts of Punda, Pietermaai, Scharloo and Otrobanda are recorded. It appeared in 1912 to a scale of 1:5,000 in 2 pages. In that same year, the topographic map of Aruba appeared to a scale of 1 : 20,00 in 8 pages; in October 1915, that of the Dutch part of St. Maarten in 2 pages and that of St. Eustatius in 1 page. Finally, in 1916, the topographic map of Bonaire appeared in 10 pages. Unfortunately, no map was made of the island of Saba. All the Werbata maps were recently put on two CD Roms by Harrie Verstappen. They can be obtained at the Maritime Museum, Mensing's Caminada, NAAM and can be seen on the website www.curassow.com. Sources: Encyclopaedie van Nederlandsch West-Indie, Den Haag, 1914-1917 Newton, Michael A., Architectuur en bouwwijze van het Curaçaose landhuis, Delftse Universitaire Pers, 1986 Soest, J. van, Olie als Water. De Curaçaose economie in de eerste helft van de twintigste eeuw, Zutphen, 1977 Werbata, J.V.D., De topografische opneming van de Benedenwindsche eilanden (Kolonie Curaçao); In: Jaarverslag van de Topografische Dienst in Ned.-Indie, 1907 Werbata, J.V.D., De topografische opneming van het eiland Curaçao; In: Jaarverslag van de Topografische Dienst in Ned.-Indie, 1909 -- Text Michael A. Newton. "Our cultural heritage: a Joint venture" also appears in the Extra and Amigoe newspapers. We gladly welcome any reactions to and suggestions for contributions. You can also contact the National Archaeological-Anthropological Museum at Rouvilleweg 7, Willemstad. Telephone (09) 462.1933, fax (09) 463.1936 or via e-mail: naam@curacao.com