1779-1856年間英人對臺灣水文資訊的調查、彙整與應用

The data collecting and application of the hydrographical information on the Taiwan waters: The British investigation from 1779 to 1856

游博清(Po-Ching Yu)

《季風亞洲研究》 9期 (2019/10) Pp. 113-144

摘要

自1780年代起至第二次鴉片戰爭前，英人與臺灣雖未有實際的貿易關係，但此前中英貿易不同階段裡船隻的航行需求、新航線的探索，以及基隆蘊藏煤礦消息等因素，使英人船艦仍日益頻繁地航經臺灣周邊多處海域，也促使英國多次派遣專業水文船隻實地調查之，並重視水文資訊的統整和歸納。本文透過分析英國東印度公司和英國皇家海軍出版的重要水文專書，如《印度航行指南》（The India Directory）和《中國海域導引》（The China Pilot），以及其他書籍、期刊，討論1779-1856 年間，在不同階段裡，英人調查臺灣海域的動機和成果，如從同一出版物不同版本中，藉由相同水域前後描述的差異，看出調查的進展和著重的不同，以及英人如何將調查蒐集的水文資訊，加以實際運用於航行安全、航線規劃，甚至外交談判等議題之上。

關鍵字

英國東印度公司 ； 皇家海軍 ； 水文調查 ； 臺灣

並列摘要

The UK had no direct trading contacts with Taiwan from 1780 era to the eve of the Second Opium War in 1856. However, the British ships still sailed through surrounding waters of Taiwan increasingly due to the needs of ship’s navigation in different stages of Anglo-China trading relationship, the search for new passage and the news of possible coal mines resources in Keelung. The British had continuously dispatched professional hydrographical ships to investigate Taiwan waters and emphasis on the data collecting and induction of the hydrological information. Through the analysis on the important hydrographical books published by the British East India Company and the Royal Navy, such as The India Directory, The China Pilot and other related books and journals, this article will discuss the motivations and achievements of the British investigation on Taiwan waters between several stages during 1779-1856. The progress of investigation and the difference of focus in different period could be presented through the version comparison of the same publications on the same water. The author also examine how the British applied the hydrographical information they collected on the issues of the navigation safety, the passages planning, even the diplomatic negotiations.

並列關鍵字

British East India Company ； Royal Navy ； Hydrographical investigation ； Taiwan