Page 8 - KBHA BULLETIN 8

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that time by Albuquerque. (Fig. 1.1). Cantino’s famous chart of the world (Fig 1.2)
appeared in 1502.

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Charting was being undertaken throughout the 15 and 16 centuries but it is obvious that
there was little real information available to depict on these charts. Still, these efforts

proved of inestimable value and resulted in the subsequent successful voyage of da Gama
around the Cape to India. Much of this early work, which was stored in the Casa de Guine,

was destroyed during the catastrophic earthquake at Lisbon in 1755.

Dutch

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With the occupation of the Cape by the Dutch in the 17 century the acquisition of
navigational information was expanded considerably, and in particular the knowledge of

Table Bay and Simon’s Bay. The vessels then travelled along the coast in an easterly
direction and headed out into the Indian Ocean south of Madagascar. Sailing directions

with occasional specific information on watering places and anchorages had to be available.
The vessels usually used the same route for their return voyages. Not much surveying was

undertaken away from the Cape and few attempts were made to chart the routes.

British

While the occupation of the Cape by the Dutch was primarily in support of the voyages to

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the East the arrival of the British at the beginning of the 19 century had a different
purpose. The British occupation was ostensibly to strengthen the British presence in the

southern oceans. The early colonisation of the Cape and Natal was a natural consequence

and completely changed the requirements for charting. In support of their trade, scientific
research, and military operations the British made significant contributions to worldwide

charting knowledge, and between 1780 and 1820 nineteen major scientific and charting
expeditions took place in various parts of the world. These expeditions included famous

names such as Cook, Bligh, Flinders and Vancouver.