The tragic tale of the São João survivors

y the turn of the 15th century, the Portuguese had established a sea route to India around the southern tip of Africa. Known as the it replaced the overland spice route, but was every bit as dangerous, with six Portuguese ships being wrecked along Africa’s notorious south-east coast between 1552 and 1593 alone. The first, the came to grief in June 1552 at present-day Port Edward, and the harrowing tale of its survivors has passed into