-
Astl.
[2] In a note to the second voyage of Cada Mosto, it has been already
noticed that he seems to have given the name of Rio Grande to the
channel between the Bissagos islands, or shoals of the Rio Grande and
the Main. This river Besegue, may possibly be the strait or channel
which divides the island named particularly Bissagos, or more properly
Bissao, from that of Bassis or Bussi. Yet, this river Besegue may even
have been that now called Rio Grande, in which, about twenty-four
leagues above its mouth, there is an island called Bissaghe. - E.
[3] It is strange that the Rio de Nuno, close by this cape, the estuary
of which is not less than seven or eight miles wide, should be here
omitted; but the present voyage is very superficially narrated
throughout. - E.
[4] The text is here obviously defective, as no river is mentioned before;
but the allusion must be to the river Pongo, Pongue, or Pougue, at the
mouth of which Cape Sagres is situated; indeed that cape seems to be
formed by one of the islands off the mouth of the river. - E.
[5] There are a number of small rivers on the coast, between Cape Sagres
and Cape Tagrin, such as Tofali, Dania, Buria, Berrea, Tanna, Pogone,
Cagrance, dos Casas; but our modern charts have none named as in the
text on this part of the coast. - E.
[6] This is now called Cape Tagrin, and forms the northern point at the
entrance of the Sierra Leone river, otherwise called the Mitomba or
Tagrin river. The southern point is named Cape Sierra Leone; and in
some maps is likewise named Liedo very improperly. It is necessary to
distinguish carefully between the _Cape_ of Sierra Leone, and the
mountainous ridge of the same name, which appears to extend a
considerable way along the coast to the S. E. near fifty miles, to the
river Kates, or Sa. Ma. della Neue. But, from the baldness of the
narrative, there is great difficulty in tracing out this voyage. - E.
[7] These are now called Bananas islands, in lat. 8 deg. N. - E.
[8] Perhaps the Camaranca. - E.
[9] Probably that now called Tassa Point, or Cabo de S. Anna. - E.
[10] This account seems again to refer to the river Camaranca and Tassa
Point; otherwise called Cape St Ann; yet this cape is brought in
immediately afterwards. Indeed this voyage is inextricably confused,
probably incorrect or corrupt. - E.
[11] The large island of Sherbro, with Sherbro Strand and Shoals, a very
prominent feature of this part of the African coast, is here entirely
overlooked; unless we suppose de Cintra to have gone on the outside of
that island, considering the sound as a river, and naming the N. W.
point of Sherbro island Cape St Ann. - E.
[12] We have already seen that Don Henry died in this year, which must,
therefore, be here an error of the press, either in the original
publication by Cada Mosto, or in some of the after editions. - E.
CHAPTER V.
CONTINUATION OF THE PORTUGUESE DISCOVERIES ALONG THE COAST OF AFRICA,
FROM THE DEATH OF DON HENRY IN 1463, TO THE DISCOVERY OF THE CAPE OF GOOD
HOPE IN 1486[1].
SECTION I.
_Progress of Discovery from Cape Verga to Cape St Catherine; from the
Death of Don Henry to that of King Alphonzo V_.
After the decease of Don Henry, the illustrious father of maritime
discovery, the progress of the Portuguese along the coast of Africa
received a considerable check, as the military ardour of Alphonzo the
Fifth was principally directed to the support of his pretensions to the
throne of Castile, the circumstances of which are unconnected with the
plan of this work. King Alphonzo was not however entirely inattentive to
the trade for gold and slaves, which his illustrious uncle Don Henry had
commenced with that part of Africa which is now called Guinea. The origin
of this name of Guinea, or _Ghinney_, is unknown. It is not in use among
the natives, and seems to have been imposed by the Portuguese from the
appellation of _Ghenchoa_, given to a country on the south side of the
Senegal, us first mentioned by Leo and afterwards by Marmol. Ever since
the year 1453, as already mentioned, considerable importations of gold
had been made to Portugal from the coast of Africa; but little or no
progress had been made in extending the discoveries farther south, for
some time previous to the decease of Don Henry. In 1470, King Alphonzo
sailed with a considerable army, in a fleet of above 300 ships, and
carried the strong fort of _Arzila_ on the Atlantic coast of Africa, a
little way to the south of the Straits of Gibraltar. But of his military
exploits in Africa, from which he acquired the appellation of _Africanus_,
and assumed the additional title of _Lord of the coasts on both seas_,
our present purpose does not call for any recital. In 1479, the disputes
between the crowns of Portugal and Castile were compromised by a treaty
entered into by Alphonzo V. king of Portugal, and Ferdinand king of
Castile; by which the trade of Guinea, and the navigation of its coast,
with the proposed conquest of _Fez_, were guaranteed to Portugal, and the
Canary islands were annexed to the crown of Castile.
From the want of any accurate history of the progress of the Portuguese
discoveries, it is utterly impossible to determine the dates or
circumstances of many of the progressive discoveries along the western
coast of Africa, and of its islands.
