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Published
continuously since 1837, for 166 years. |
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Published
continuously since 1837, for 166 years. |
Dr.
da Silva makes ‘Portuguese
discovered America's
case
Lecture at
Herreshoff Museum theorizes that the
Portuguese
were first to land in America
By
Brian Coates
bcoates@eastbaynewspapers.com
Dr.
Manuel Luciano da Silva delivered his 363rd lecture Tuesday night at the
Herreshoff Marine Museum, and in it pontificated his theories as to who really
discovered the Americas, and when.
Introduced by museum president Halsey Herreshoff as “a great friend, a mentor to many, a wonderful citizen in town, and a man who brings great enthusiasm to everything he does,” Dr. da Silva promptly cut into an approximately two-hour freewheeling oratory and slide show, complete with well-timed quips and rolling r’s, taking the crowd of sailing enthusiasts back and forth across the Atlantic several times in making his points.
Citing nautical maps drawn in 1424, or 68 years before Columbus landed in the Caribbean, and carvings on a Dighton Rock, a Taunton River boulder, Dr. da Silva claimed that there is irrefutable proof to the theory that the first Europeans to set foot in North America were indeed Portuguese sailors who “received the same training and education at the Nautical School of Prince Henry the Navigator, in Sagres, Portugal.”
‘People can make their claims reference books, but you can’t dispute the rock,” he said. Specifically, Dighton Rock contains carvings which, when closely examined, clearly bears the name “Miguel Corte Real,” a late 15th-century Portuguese explorer who never returned to Lisbon following a journey west in 1502, as well as three Portuguese Crosses of the Order of Christ, the date 1511, and the Portuguese V-shaped coat of arms.
According to Dr. da Silva, these carvings, along with the fact that they so closely resemble others found on undisputed Portuguese markings in Africa, Asia and the Americas, is proof-positive, but not exclusive.
The nautical map, created on Aug. 22, 1424 by Zuane Pizzigano, contains four islands, which in shape, size, latitudinal position and ruggedness match the islands of Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island off the eastern Canadian coast. The largest of these islands was named Antilia, and according to Dr. da Silva, the chain became mistaken — albeit “a 2,000 mile mistake” — for the Caribbean island chain from Cuba southeast to Trinidad.
Some of the most compelling points made by Dr. da Silva, however had nothing to do with documents or carved bedrock. He illustrated how, by examining ocean currents, the voyage to America from Portugal is a relatively easy one, as well as how discoveries of Portuguese navigators, such as the triangular Caravel sail (still used today), which makes sailing into the wind a breeze, and the discovery that round-about high seas sailing is much easier (and faster) than hugging the coastline, could lead to America’s “accidental” discovery.
At the lecture’s conclusion, which he dedicated to “all amateur historians, because it us who have made all of the great. historical discoveries,” Dr. da. Silva encouraged the audience to look at the evidence themselves, and draw their own conclusions. “That’s the fun,”
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