The Geographical Journal (Journal of the Royal Geographical Society): Volume XVI, No. 6 [‎359r] (70/232)

THE VOYAGES OF DIOGO CAO AND BARTHOLOMEU DIAS, 1482 88 .
043
Apart from what can be gathered from the above, and from a few
early maps, we are dependent upon De Barros for what we know con
cerning the voyage of Bartholomeu Dias. Other hrstonans have e.ther
slavishly copied him, or they adduce no fresh information. Strange o
say Buy de Pina and Garcia de Besende, the chroniclers of King
John II., although they refer casually to the discovery of the Cape of
Good Hope, do not once mention the name of Bartholomeu Dias s
for Correa, the author of the ‘ Lendas da India, he may safely be
discarded.*
Bartholomeu Dias was given the command of two ships, of fifty tons
each, and of a store-vessel-t His flagship, we think, must have been
a ChrUovao, perhaps the very vessel which he commanded before his
departure in 1480, and again in 1490-95; or possibly a new vessel
bearing the familiar name. His chief pilot was Pero d Alemquer, an
experienced seaman, who subsequently served under \asco da Gama.
The master’s name was Leitao. The second ship, the St. Pantaleao, had
for its captain Joao Infante, a cavalier of the kings household, with
whom were Alvaro Martins as pilot, and Joao Grego as master r
store-vessel was placed in charge of Pero Dias, a brother of B_artho omew_
Joao de Santiago was pilot, Joao Alves master, and Fernao Cola Q o, of
L " Theie'were on board two negroes whom Cao had kidnapped, as also
four negresses from the Guinea coast. Strict orders had been given,
not onlj to avoid every conflict with the natives, but also to gain their
confidence by gifts. The four Guinea women were to be landed at
various places, handsomely dressed, and furnished with samples of gold,
silver, and spices, which the Portuguese were in quest of. These they
were to exhibit wherever they went, proclaiming, at the same time, he
greatness and munificence of the King of Portugal, and the ardent desire
which possessed him to communicate with Prester John. omen were
selected for this duty, as they would he respected even in e mi s o
tribal wars. . , c ,, i .
Dias, we have no doubt, was furnished with a copy of the chait
compiled by D. Diogo Ortiz de Yilhegas, of Cal ? adilha, Dr. Rodrigo, o
Pedras Negras (the king’s physician), and Master Moses, a Jew, which
had been given in May, 1487, to Pero de Covilha.+
* Correa does not mention the name of Dias. According *» ’ ’
foreign merchant and practical seaman, had the command. ai ing in ensure
double the Cape, he maintained that vessels larger than caravels were n ,
success. The king at once ordered such vessels to be built, but Jamnfante died, and
the command was given to Yasco da Gama
t De Barros, ‘ Asia,’ t. I. p. i. p. 184.
X F. Alvares, ‘ Yerdadeira Informaijao,’ c. 103.