Page 6 - Bulletin 20 2016

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Africa. More significantly, they completely dispelled the long held world view passed down
from the time of Aristotle (384 – 322 and the Greco-Egyptian geographer Claudius Ptolomy
(c. 100 - c. 170 AD) that Africa was not surrounded by ocean but rather connected to a
mythical southern landmass, Terra Australis Incognita - that in a world believed to be flat -
counterbalanced the landmasses of the north. (Fig. 2.2.)

No first-hand account, logbook, or chart, from the Dias expedition has survived with the
result that most of what we know of this voyage comes from an account written over half a
century later by the Portuguese chronicler João de Barros (1496-1570) (1) . Sailing ever
southward Barros reports that upon nearing the Cape, Dias’ ships were driven far out to sea.
Just as likely Dias decided to execute a long tack to the southwest against contrary south-
easterly winds (that prevail at the Cape during this time of the year) and the northward flow
of the Benguela Current. Later setting an easterly course and sailing for “some days” without
touching land, the only conclusion Dias could arrive at was that his expedition had rounded
the southern end of Africa and so turned northward - making landfall near the mouth of the
Gouritz River. From here his caravels set a northeast course and found shelter and a source of
(2)
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fresh water in a bay which, being February 3 , they named after São Bras (Saint Blaze) .
Today we know this as Mossel Bay and this proved to be such a favourable landing place that
it came to be the most recommended port-o’-call and watering place (Aquado de São Bras)
for later Portuguese ships rounding the southern coast of Africa. Continuing north-eastward
as far as Kwaaihoek (some seven kilometres beyond the mouth of the Bushman’s River) it
was here, at the insistence of his officers and crew and apparently much to the
disappointment of Dias, that the expedition turned back after erecting a limestone cross /
(3)
padrão . Being the feast day of São Gregorio (Saint Gregory) this padrão was dedicated to
this saint - marking the day as March 12, 1488.

Returning westward and no doubt delayed by the need to effect make-shift repairs and seek
out fresh provisions along the way, the expedition finally arrived at the Cape Peninsula and of
which Barros grandiloquently writes:

“setting out thence, they came in sight of that great and famous cape concealed for so
many centuries which when it was seen made known not only itself but also another
new world of countries. Bartolomeu Dias and those in his company, because of the

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