The Geographical Journal (Journal of the Royal Geographical Society): Volume XVI, No. 6 [‎353r] (58/232)

THE VOYAGES OF DIOGO CAO AND BAKTHOLOMEU DIAS, 1482-88. 631
Mr. Dennett * examined the fragments in May of the same year. There
were two large pieces, as shown in our illustration, and two ball-shaped
pieces, 7 and 9 inches in diameter, lying at their foot. The material
was a coarse white marble. The two larger fragments are now in the
museum of the Lisbon Geographical Society.
The very hideous monument set up in 1859 by Sr. Sori was fortunately
washed away by the sea in 1864. It was replaced, in 1892, by a memorial
of better design, but still vastly inferior to the original padrao.
It is to be presumed that Cao, when, after a delay which may well
have extended over several months, left for the south, was able to gain
a fairly complete knowledge of the coast, for his progress must have
been slow. We know from Soligo’s chart that he discovered a river,
which he named after Fernao Vaz,'j’ as also the low sandy Ilhas das
Cabras (Goat islands), off the modern city of Loanda.
Making a long stretch from the coast, Cao never noticed the most
important river along the coast, the Kwanza, although its clayey waters
discolour the sea for 10 or 15 miles. It is curious that none of his
immediate successors should have been more fortunate. The river is
not mentioned in Pacheco’s ‘Esmeraldo,’ and is apparently shown for
the first time on a chart of P. Eeinel, who already knew its native name.
A remarkable headland, which from some bearings appears as a double
peak, was appropriately named by Cao, “ A terra da duas Pontas.” It is
now known as the “ Morro,” or hill, of Old Benguella. Further south,
Cao seems to have examined the mouth of the Catumbela, for Eio do
Paul—river of the swamp—is a very appropriate name for a river which,
after the rains in March and April, overflows its banks and converts a
great extent of country into a swamp or marsh. As Cao called the bay
to the south Angra de St. Maria, he may have been in the vicinity of
this river on Lady Day, March 25, 1483.
The bold granitic cliffs immediately to the south of Ponta Choca
(13° 17' S.) became known as Castello d’Alter pedroso;+ and about
10 miles beyond, on a low point, which he called “ Cabo do lobo” (seal
point), Cao erected his second padrao, which was dedicated to St.
Augustin, from which it must not be inferred that it was erected on
August 28, as these dedications were made in Portugal. At the back
of this cape, now known as St. Mary (13° 26' S.), rose a Monte negro
(black mountain), and Pacheco § tells us that it was called Ponta negra,
or Preta (both meaning black point), because of a “ black ” trump,
“ manilha negra,” which was played here in a game of manille. This * * * §
* Dennett, Jour. Manchester Geogr. Soc., iii., 1887, p. 122 .
t The river Dande. It is shown on Soligo’s chart.
X Alter pedroso is a village near Portugalete, belonging to the Order of S. Bento;
Diogo d’Azambuja was commander of this village (‘ Esmeraldo,’ p. 68 ).
§ ‘ Esmeraldo,’ p. 85.
2 2 u