HISTORIE, TECHNIEKEN EN MAATSCHAPPELIJKE ...

A few years later (1905) a Surveyorls Association was founded and a course
designed to make the surveyors more competent in their profession.
3.6. SurveyoPs Instructions
From the moment that Willem Mogge, the first Dutch surveyor accepted
his assignment, he received surveying-instructions.
His successors were als bound by certain directions such as those of August
lst, 1724; of December 17th, 1782 and September 21st, 1877. Another in-
struction was issued on April 27th, 1915 giving directions concerning mea-
surements and staking out plots granted in concession for certain purposes.
The next instruction dating from July 6th, 1927 pertained to the prosecu-
tion of the profession of landsurveyor in Suriname.
Art. 8 of this instruction prescribes a separate ruling of the ways how the
surveyor has to perform his function.
4. Thematic and technical mapping
4.1. Hydrographic surveying and mapping
The safety of navigation demands reliable charts more so in connection
with the phenomenon of the movement of mudflats along the Surinamese
coast.
A series of new charts are issued by the House of van Keulen in 1785, sho-
wing great similarity to the Heneman map from 1784. Not very surprising,
considering the fact that the Heneman map is also issued by Van Keulen.
What, however, strikes us as accidental is the toponym 'lAbrinal', a village
on the Marowijne river, long before Kappler, who is said to be the founder
of I1Albina1', came to Suriname.
The chart of E. Thomson and others from 1783 still indicates the
Saramacca estuarium as shown inaccurately on the map of Lavaux from
1737.
An important contribution to the hydrographic charting of Suriname was
made by the Dutch Navy. As an example the chart of naval-lieutenant J.
Vos from 1845 is discussed; with this chart a tradition starts for years on
end (40 years). Another chart, that of F.A.A. Gregory appeared before the
footlights (1860), followed by an explanation of the chart issued in 1887 by
the Marine Department. The scale of these charts was 1:750.000 which be-
came traditional on charts of the Surinamese coast.
Apart from these synoptical charts of the coast, also charts of the separate
rivers and river-entrances were compiled mostly on the scale 1:75.000 using
the Mercator projection and giving heights and depths with mean sealevel
as a reference (2-3- foot above low-water spring).
The most recent hydrographic surveys took place between 1967 and 1973,
while the latest charts were issued in 1976.
4.2. The poly-thematic map of Zimmerrnann 1877
Zimmermann, using the manuscript map of Vermeulen, issued this map on
which all economical, geological, pedological and historical informations of
the Suriname-river basin is given in a surveyable fashion. The mentioning of
the local (Sranan) toponyms, along with the official geographical names is
very unique.
Consulting the map it appeared that the plantation-area along the Suriname
river dwindled down to only 2329 ha (33 plantations) where 2835 local labo-
rers and 1396 immigrants were employed. Attention was also given to hy-
drography and the gold-industry.