1575–1576
Manuel de Mesquita Perestrelo surveys the south and south-east coast
Commissioned by Portuguese authorities, Manuel de Mesquita Perestrelo charted the coast from the Cape of Good Hope to Cape Correntes between November 1575 and January 1576.
On 22 November 1575, Manuel de Mesquita Perestrelo left Mozambique Island in a small vessel to survey the coast southward from the Cape of Good Hope to Cape Correntes. He reached the Cape in January 1576, continued the observations through 28 January, and returned to Mozambique in March. The assignment focused on coastal navigation, including safe anchorages, headlands, bays and hazards.
Perestrelo’s record included coastal panoramas and Portuguese names for landmarks from the Cape through the southern and south-eastern coast, including St Lucia. It extended the navigational information available to Portuguese mariners and preserved observations of a coastline used by established coastal communities and international shipping.
Significance
The survey recorded anchorages, coastal landmarks and sailing conditions for Portuguese navigation along the south-eastern African route.
Why it matters
The survey recorded anchorages, coastal landmarks and sailing conditions for Portuguese navigation along the south-eastern African route.
Perspective notes
The surviving survey is a Portuguese navigational record focused on coastlines, anchorages and hazards. It provides less information about the communities living along the route than the shipwreck narratives.
Terminology notes
The survey’s Portuguese place names are retained where they identify historical coastal landmarks; modern names are supplied through the linked places and regions.