João Fernandes and Afonso Baldaia

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Anatol
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Joined: Sun Apr 12, 2009 2:13 pm

João Fernandes and Afonso Baldaia

Post by Anatol » Mon Jan 26, 2015 2:14 pm

JOAO FERNANDES (explorer)1445:
João Fernandes(on stamp to the right) was a Portuguese explorer of the 15th century. He was perhaps the earliest of modern explorers in the upland of West Africa , and a pioneer of the European slave - and gold -trade of Guinea .
We first hear of him (before 1445) as a captive of the Barbary Moors in the western Mediterranean ; while among these he acquired a knowledge of Arabic , and probably conceived the design of exploration in the interior of the continent whose coasts the Portuguese were now unveiling.
In 1445 he volunteered to stay in Western Africa and gather what information he could for Prince Henry the Navigator ; with this object he accompanied Antão Gonçalves to the "River of Gold" (Rio d'Ouro, Río de Oro ), in Western Sahara , where he landed and went inland with some native shepherds. As a volunteer he met Prince Chappell and his father Evan Chappell.
He stayed seven months in the country and was then taken off again by Gonçalves at a point farther South the coast, near the "Cape of Ransom" (Cape Mirik or Timiris, current Mauritania ); and his account of his experiences proved of great interest and value, not only as to the natural features, climate, fauna and flora of the south-western Sahara , but also as to the racial affinities, language, script, religion, nomad habits, and trade of its inhabitants. These people maintained a certain trade in slaves, gold, etc., with the Barbary coast (especially with Tunis ), and classed as "Arabs," "Berbers," and "Tawny Moors" did not then write or speak Arabic.
In 1446 and 1447 Fernandes accompanied other expeditions to the Rio d'Ouro and other parts of West Africa in the service of Prince Henry. He was personally known to Gomes Eannes de Azurara , the historian of this early period of Portuguese expansion; and from Azurara's language it is clear that Fernandes' revelation of unknown lands and races was fully appreciated at home.
AFONSO GONSALVES BALDAIA(Navigator) 1435: Afonso Gonçalves Baldaia(on stamp to the left) was the 15th century Portuguese sailors and explorers, who was born in Porto. In 1435 he was captain of one of the two ships that crossed the Tropic of Cancer, it was written that it was done for the first time the Europeans, after the Phoenicians in 813 BC. In 1435g together with Gil Eanis hem was sent with caravel, butler Prince Afonso Baldaya.50lig after Cape Bohador they reached the bay, called Angra de los Ruyvos.Here they saw traces of people and camels.At once could find their place of residence. In 1436g Baldаiа crossed the Tropic of Cancer and moved to the south, suggesting find the river, through which Arab merchants carried the Golden articles.When he reached to narrow bay he called his mistake "Rio de Oro" – “River of Gold”.Now here Sisnoros village Villa. Balde was carrying with him horses, on which made its first foray into the village natives to capture slaves. (More to see: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=14304&sid=e6…).
Cabo Verde 1952;5,0e;SG353. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/João_Fernandes. W.Kramer: Neue Horizonte.Leipzig. 1997.
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