Geographical Record: Atlas of the Tanganyika Territory

Summary

This paper provides a descriptive review of the "Atlas of the Tanganyika Territory" (1942), a comprehensive cartographic compilation produced by the Survey Division of Tanganyika under the direction of H.P. Rowe. Despite the wartime context limiting its public release, the atlas assembled a wide range of geographical information. The paper details the atlas's structure, which comprises five physical maps (physiography, physical features, geology, rainfall and temperature), three biogeographical maps (forest reserves, game distribution and reserves, tsetse distribution), six human geography maps (native population, European and Asiatic population, tribes, provinces and districts, medical and educational facilities), and four industry and commerce maps (agriculture, cattle densities, minerals, and communications). A historical section with nine sheets includes reproductions of ancient maps and routes of European explorers. The atlas was initially restricted to government departments for security reasons. Subsequent additions in 1943 included hydrography and a provisional malaria map, with soil and vegetation maps in preparation. A revised edition was anticipated by late 1948, with public availability expected in 1949. The review highlights the atlas's value as a centralized reference that consolidates diverse data otherwise scattered across inaccessible publications.