Bartolomeu Dias followed the coast from Mossel Bay, but to his surprise, he found that he was travelling to the northeast. He registered that fortunately, the storm might have taken him to the final cape of Africa. Dias’s expedition reached its furthest point on 12th March 1488, when they anchored at Kwaaihoek, near the mouth of the Bushmans River. They erected one of the padroes there.
Dias knew that his ship was sailing along the east coast and into the Indian Ocean. Dias was greatly elated by the achievement, but his crew did not share his joy. They were on the verge of mutiny as they were fearful of sailing further towards unknown lands.
Thus Bartolomeu Dias was disheartened, and decided to sail back from the very gateway of the Indian Ocean.
While returning, Dias and his men saw the southernmost cape of Africa. Dias named it the ‘Cape of Storms’.
Later, the king renamed it as the ‘Cape of Good Hope’. This was an important discovery, as it was the key to the long sought passage to India.
