1898.] Erected by Bartholomew Diaz near Angra Pequena. 297 



There can, I think, be little doubt that it, together with the two 

 fragments now in the Geographical Museum at Lisbon, formed part 

 of an upright pillar somewhat similar to those of Diogo Cao still in 

 perfect condition in the same Museum, and figured in SenhorCordeiro's 

 Memoir which is referred to in the next section ; further, that the 

 cross was of iron, and of very much slighter dimensions and was fixed 

 on the top of the stone pillar. 



II. — On the Remains of the Pillars markings the discovery of 

 the Western Coasts of Africa preserved in the Museum 

 of the Geographical Society of Lisbon. 



It seemed to me worth while to try and trace the subsequent history 

 of the pieces of the cross said to have been sent to Portugal. I 

 therefore wrote through the Colonial Office to inquire as to the 

 whereabouts of the missing pieces, and to try and obtain at least a 

 photograph of them. Eventually, after the elapse of nearly a year 

 I received from Lisbon through the Imperial Foreign Office a photo- 

 graph of the missing pieces, together with the following note on the 

 'Crosses or Memorial Pillars erected by the early Portuguese navi- 

 gators on the western coasts of Africa, now preserved in the Museum 

 of the Geographical Society of Lisbon. 



As the note kindly prepared by Senhor Lucian Cordeiro seemed to 

 me of considerable interest, I append here a free translation of it, for 

 which I am greatly indebted to the kindness of Senhor Tedeschi, the 

 Consul-General for Portugal in Cape Town. The note is as follows : — 



" In the Colonial and Ethnographical Museum of the Geographical 

 Society of Lisbon, there exist the remains of the following stone 

 pillars erected on the West Coast of Africa, to witness and recall the 

 early discoveries and possessions of the Portuguese." 



1. Pillar of St. Augustine, placed on the Cape, first known as that 

 of St. Augustine, afterwards known as that of St. Maria, in 13° 27' 15" 

 S. Lat., and 21° 38' E. Long, of Lisbon according to Castilho (' Desc. 

 e roteira da Costa Occ. da Africa,' 1866) to the south of Benguella ; 

 this is the second pillar erected by Diogo Cao, and the last of his first 

 voyage of discovery (1482). 



On the terminal portion of the pillar the following description can 

 be read : " Date of the Creation of the world 6881, year of our Lord 

 Jesus Christ 1482, the very exalted very excellent and powerful King 

 D. John the Second of Portugal caused this land to be discovered and 

 this pillar to be placed by Diogo Cao, Groom of the Household." 



