The Geographical Journal (Journal of the Royal Geographical Society): Volume XVI, No. 6 [‎360r] (72/232)

THE VOYAGES OF DIOGO CAO AND BARTHOLOMEU DIAS, 1482-88. 645
On Cantino’s chart, the deep hay to the east of this cape, our modern
Angra pequena, is called Golfo de S. Christovao, and this, it appears,
was the name originally bestowed upon a bay which subsequently
became known as Angra or Golfo das Voltas—the “bay of tacks.” *
It is not probable that Dias remained long in this bay. De Barros
tells us that he stood off and on for five days, when there arose a strong
wind, which compelled him to reduce his sails, and before which he ran
south for thirteen days. This statement we are not prepared to accept,
for northerly winds are exceedingly rare along this coast, and the
squalls from the north-north-east or north-north-west, which are ex
perienced occasionally, are never of long duration. But when Dias
reached a higher latitude on the south-east edge of the Agulhas bank,
and came under the influence of the “ roaring forties,” it is very likely
that he met with gales and a heavy sea, and, considering the small size
of the vessels, his men are to be excused if they stood in “ mortal fear; ” |
and they naturally suffered from the cold, for in these latitudes they
experienced a mean temperature of 50° or less, which is hard to bear
for men fresh from a tropical climate.
During the first period of this long stretch to the south, Dias may be
supposed to have kept within sight of the coast. He may thus have
named the Golfo de S. Estevao, now Elizabeth bay, on December 26,
and the Terra da Silvestre on December 31. He may even have heard
the roar of the rollers thundering upon the shore of the Terra dos
Bramidos,J and gained a view of the lofty Serra dos Reis on January 6,§
but beyond these he lost sight of the land, and when passing St. Helena
bay, as we learn from Pero d’Alemquer, he was far out at sea.
When the storm subsided, Dias stood east, and having failed, in the
■course of several days, to meet with land, he turned his prow to the
northward. Sailing in that direction for 150 leagues, he saw lofty
mountains rising before him, and came to anchor in a bay which he
called Bahia dos Vaqueiros (Cowherd’s bay). This happened on
* Barros, p. 186, says, “ now known as Angra das Voltas.” Of the identity of this
bay with our Angra pequena there can be no doubt. It is quite true that Duarte
Pacheco places the Angra das Voltas in 29° 20' S., the Strassburg Ptolemy in 28° S., and
De Barros in 29° S.; but, on the other hand, Juan de la Cosa places this bay in 24° S.,
and the author of Oantino’s chart in 26° 30' S., its true latitudes being 26° 40' S.
Duarte Pacheco, in his ‘ Esmeraldo,’ describes it as being 1 league broad at the
mouth, league deep, affording a safe anchorage for a hundred vessels in from ten to
twelve brasses. The only bay along this coast fitting this description, or the contours
•of our ancient maps, is our Angra pequena.
t De Barros, p. 187.
X “ Bramidos ” means “ roars.”
§ That is, mountains of the three magi.
|| See ‘A Journal of Vasco da Gama’s First Voyage’ (Hakluyt Society), p. 9.
No. YI.— December, 1900.] 2 x