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eventREF E-0010798Revised

3 February 1488

Bartolomeu Dias reaches present Mossel Bay

Bartolomeu Dias reaches present Mossel Bay

Updated
30 Sep 2019
Bartolomeu Dias reaches present Mossel Bay

Bartolomeu Dias discovered that he had sailed past the southern-most point of Africa. A strong wind had driven him so far south of Cape Point that he did not see it and had to sail northwards to reach the coast. His first landing place was the bay of St. Blaize (SÁƒÂƒ£o Bras), now Mossel Bay. Here he took in fresh water and bartered live-stock from the Khoikhoi. Due probably to a lack of understanding, a crossbow was fired killing one of the Khoi. The Post Office Tree, where seafarers from centuries ago posted letters home using a cleft in an ancient tree as a postbox signifies that ships called regularly at the bay for watering and other purposes.

How we know this

  1. 01Potgieter, D.J. et al. (eds) (1970). Standard Encyclopaedia of Southern Africa, Cape Town: NASOU, v.4, p. Wallis, F. (2000).
  2. 02Nuusdagboek: feite en fratse oor 1000 jaar, Kaapstad: Human & Rousseau.

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, March 16). Bartolomeu Dias reaches present Mossel Bay. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0010798

South African History Online (2011) 'Bartolomeu Dias reaches present Mossel Bay', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0010798 (Accessed: 22 October 2026).

South African History Online, Bartolomeu Dias reaches present Mossel Bay [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0010798, (accessed 22 October 2026).

"Bartolomeu Dias reaches present Mossel Bay." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0010798. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

South African History Online. "Bartolomeu Dias reaches present Mossel Bay." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0010798.

Also on 3 February

  1. 1848Britain annexes territory between the Orange and Vaal Rivers
  2. 1903Frederick Lugard, British colonial administrator, occupies Kano, West Africa
  3. 1946The NIC calls mass meeting
  4. 1953Advocate Anton Lubowski, the first White member of SWAPO, is born
  5. 1960Macmillan’s 'winds of change’ speech in Parliament
  6. 1961Fierce fighting erupts between pro-Patrice Lumumba troops and UN forces
  7. 1969Retief Goosen is born.
  8. 1969Eduardo Mondlane, president of FRELIMO, dies

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