Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
British officers and local Spanish gentry together pursued foxes across the countryside north-
west of Gibraltar, among the Spanish farms and in the hinterland. High-ranking visitors from
England, including royalty, would join or watch the Hunt. What began as a way of keeping
military men fit became embedded in the social fabric of the colony.
This is part of a large manuscript 'Hunting Map of the Country Adjacent To Gibraltar'. It
shows the area around the Bay of Gibraltar and inland as far north as a remote area of cork-
oak woods at Almoraima, a favourite hunting ground (off the top of the map). The use of
watercolour heightens the sense of drama in the landscape to the viewer. The map shows how
rugged and dangerous this mountainous countryside was for riders galloping at speed, with
deep narrow ravines and watercourses to negotiate. The central river valley of the Guadar-
ranque, which runs from the Bay northwards, was both a boon in its flatness and an obstacle,
since men and horses alike had to cross the water by a small ferry.
Spanish place names - for towns, villages and haciendas - mix with English ones, for
places associated with the Hunt, or to explain types of terrain. These include salt pans in blue
on the coast at the bay's centre, sandy hills to their left and a sandy plain around the bay to the
right. In the hilly interior dense vegetation and dark green pine woods are indicated. Game
bird 'covers' are named for Englishmen with one marked 'Woodcock Cover'. Other sporting
details include bullrings, and a steeplechase course above the sandy plain. The lowlands fea-
ture plantations, osiers, orange groves, and public gardens by the town of Algeciras (left).
Captain Charles Lacon Harvey made this map while on his second tour of duty in Gibraltar,
which finished in April 1873. His army service shows that he was aged 33, and serving in the
71st (Highland) Regiment of Foot. He was trained not in mapmaking but in veterinary scien-
ce and riding, and also excelled at musketry - all useful skills for a hunter. Harvey went on
to serve at the Cape of Good Hope and in the East Indies. His map saw later service, too. The
need for this kind of detailed topographical map was shown by the fact that it was printed and
used in different versions for decades, both by the Hunt and by the army.
