HORSBURGH, JAMES, whose name is indis solubly connected with the history of the Marine ,, Surveys of India, was a native of Scotland. He began life as a cabin boy, but soon rose to the command of a vessel in the eastern seas, and gave rein to his innate love of surveying. After many years, he returned to England, and a set of charts, engraved by Walker, placed him at once in the first rank of hydrographers. About 1804 he published the first edition of his East Indian /- Directory, and on the 10th November 1810 he was appointed to examine the journals of the East 1 ndia Company's ships, and became Hydrographer. From that time till his death in 1836, all charts passed under his scrutiny, and were published under his superintendence. Fourteen eharti actually;compiled by himself, were published by the East India Company, from the N. and S. Atlantic to the Archipelago. His Directory went through six editions, in 1809, 1836, 1841. After
the middle of the 19th century, Mr. Findlay printed one on that of Horsburgh, and in 1871 Captain Taylor printed another.
In his honour a lighthouse was erected on Pule Aor, near Pedra Branca. His sailing directions are reckoned indispensable in navi gation. The island of Pedra Branca is called Bate Putih by the Malays, both these terms signi fying white rock. Prior to the quarrying opera tions on it, it was covered by the dung of the numerous sea-birds that frequented it as a resting place. The rock is situated at the extremity of the Straits of Singapore, nearly in mid channel ; and as it advances beyond the mouth of the Straits considerably into the China Sea, it has for ages served as the principal leading mark to vessels passing out of, or into, the Straits.—Dr. Buist's Catalogue ; Journ. Ind. Archipelago, 1852; E. I, AlIarine Surveys, P. P., 1871.