The Geographical Journal (Journal of the Royal Geographical Society): Volume XVI, No. 6 [‎355r] (62/232)

AND BARTHOLOMEU DIAS, 1482-88. 635
THE VOYAGES OF DIOGO CAO
cipher in 6684 is certainly of abnormal shape, and may perhaps be
meant for a 5, in which case both inscriptions would agree. As to
“ 1485” no doubt whatever arises.
As the year 6685 of the Eusebian era begins on September 1, 1485,
Cao must have departed after that day, and before the close of the
year As he had returned from his first voyage before April, 1484 his
departure must have been delayed for reasons not known to us. Perhaps
it was owing to the opposition of the Royal Councillors to further ex
peditions, perhaps a desire that the contemplated change of arms might
be recorded on the padroes to be sent with the explorer.
During this voyage Cao seems to have commanded a fleet—at least,
so we are told by Ruy de Pina, Garcia de Resende, and Martellus Ger-
manus He took with him, as a matter of course, the four men whom
he had so unceremoniously carried off. These had been well treated in
Portugal, and were the bearers of rich presents to their king, whom they
were to invite to throw aside his idols and fetishes and embrace the only
It may be presumed that Cao, in the course of this second voyage,
gained a fuller knowledge of the coast first discovered by him to the
north of the Congo. He may thus have visited and named the bay called
Golfo do Judeu, the Jews’ bay, of old maps, either because there was a
Jew on board his vessel, or, what is less likely, because he was struck
with the Jewish physiognomy of some of the natives, who are absur y
supposed to keep the Jewish sabbath, when in reality they have fetishes
and Casas da tinta like their neighbours.! He may also have entered
the fine Golfo das almadias (Kabinda bay), still famous for its boats, as it
appears to have been in the days of the early Portuguese.
There was great rejoicing when Cao entered the Congo, and it became
known that the hostages whom he had carried off were on board his
ship. He at once sent one of these men to the Mani Congo, to announce
his arrival, and to beg that his own people should be sent down to the
coast, when the other three would be released. When the man came
back Cao sent a present to the king, and let him know that he was about
to follow the coast to the south, but that on his return he would seek
speech with him, and hand over the presents with which he had been
entrusted.^
Passing southward along the coast, Cao landed several times for the
* I da Costa Quintilla, ‘ Annaes da Marinha Portuguesa,’ i. P- 19 J’ sa >' 8 ^ the
kin- sent an “ambassador” to the King of Congo, but Ruy de Pina(p. 147) and Garcia
de Resende (p. 68 ) only say that he sent a “ message ” (embmxada) by these four men.
t TVlakoya, near Chinchosho, is one of the principal villages of these supposed Jews.
See Bastian, ‘ Deutsche Expedition nach der Loangokiiste,’ ii. pp. 4.,
* All this according to Barros, Dec. I., liv. iii- c. 3.