Conclusion & Caveat!
Exploring this map as a historic document, allows the viewer to analyze its intricacies and nuances in order to supplement the historic narrative of Bombay at the time. That being said, even after starring at the map for multiple hours I still am left with so many questions about certain images and artistic decisions. For example, despite there being many possible depictions of a compass rose, this map chose to portray it in a way that was very uncharacteristic for the time. Even after studying comparable maps and seeking advice from the Pusey map experts, I still was not able to definitively understand the factors behind the decision of the compass rose. While this is a disappointment, it is the harsh reality with all primary sources, whether it be a letter, picture, map, etc., that much will remain unknown and thus left up to mystery. Synthesizing our map with other historical documents allowed the viewer to extrapolate certain information that highlighted the cultural, political, and economic importance of the port to Bombay's history during early British control.
