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THE MAPS OF ALEXANDRE MEUNIER (1908-1909) DJIBOUTI, HARRAR, ADDIS ABABA. A MAP-READING EXERCISE [Abstract ID: 0514-02]
Alexandre Meunier, a mapmaker of the "Service Géographique" of the "Ministère des colonies" produced in 1908- 1909 a set of 3 maps on a scale of 1:500000, named Carte de la Côte Française des Somalis et des régions avoisinantes. I intend to analyse the contents of these maps as a kind of map reading exercise, by which I want to show and question the limitations and the choices done at that time. The contents may be explicit or not, visible or hidden, detailed or not. Meunier, a «cabinet cartographer» depending exclusively of the available sources at this time (previous maps and travel accounts), managed to produce maps fitting well with their primary function, that is to be the indispensable tool for foreigners on their way into Ethiopia as the railway line from Dire Dawa to Addis Ababa is under completion.