Angola's exploration of Contra Costa

At a time when the European powers began a real race for Africa in search of new territories and raw materials, Portugal could not stay behind and Ivens and Capelo have a real mission for Portugal, but also for the Portuguese king D. Luis I .

Previous to this adventure of Capelo and Ivens, the Portuguese over 200 years had only occupied the coastal areas, there was a Portuguese occupation and effective of this territory
Hermenegildo Capelo and Roberto Ivens, both geographers, landed in March 1894 on a southern beach in Angola having to face an African continent that was at the time totally unknown for the purpose of reaching Mozambique, and to show to the European powers that Portugal had rights over these territories.

So many miles of land, and several dangers, such as the settlement of several hostile tribes, beasts such as Hippos and Crocodiles, who were often on the banks of rivers, lions, etc., dangerous rivers, very high mountains, often fatigued in the midst of rain and tenebrous and sunburned, thus facing the climate, fatigue, hunger, thirst, fevers and despair but despite the danger it was a surprise to know, new lands, new fauna and flora and new cultures that came from african tribal people

Going through Africa at this time was not an adventure, but a tremendous challenge where life and survival were put to the test daily.
They have been lost for 42 days in swampy lands, with no roads and no people around
Ivens drew and recounted the whole journey of the voyage and Capelo collected the specimens of plants, animals and rocks

Picture 1 - Book page "From Angola to Contra Costa" drawings by Roberto Ivens

The Portuguese (Ivens and Capelo) were the first to admire the beauty of Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River

It was a journey that lasted 11 months, traveled 4,500 km and the 120 men who accompanied them on the farm 68 died

The native shippers at the beginning of the voyage were 100 men and 40 and they fled and left the expedition.

Ivens and Capelo were not on this expedition alone (nor did any explorer go alone). On these exploratory journeys they were accompanied by an entourage consisting of porters and cooks and people who knew Africa and the tracks of some commercial routes

In addition to the political intentions, Ivens and Capelo still had the following mission in hand:

To trace a commercial route, to register the fauna and the flora that they were finding, as well as the populations with which they were crossing, and the topographic survey of the rivers from the source to the mouth (being labyrinthic routes)

The 2nd expedition of Ivens and Capelo was a success achieving to unite Angola in fact to Mozambique and politically it resulted in a great affirmation of Portugal, in the context that Europe wanted to distribute Africa among themselves

They arrived in 1885 at Quelimane, Mozambique, thus fulfilling all the objectives proposed in the mission of this expedition

The trip from Angola to the counter was intended to give Portugal ownership of these lands, leaving in the past historical precedents, but creating an effective occupation of Angola to Mozambique, however England also wanted for themselves, these territories disputing with Portugal because they wanted to build a railroad track linking Cairo to Cape Town

This voyage of Capelo and Ivens is par excellence the journey of the Pink Map and thus claimed for the Portuguese king these territories

Since the beginning of this voyage took place in 1884 at the end of this year and at the beginning of the year 1885, the Berlin Conference took place, with the purpose of dividing the territories of the African continent, by the European powers and aiming at the occupation of the territories

The Pink Map was presented by Portugal at this conference (Berlin), where Portugal was victorious because it can get the Posse from Angola to Mozambique (through the Pink Map)

Picture 2 - Map of Pink presented by Portugal at the Berlin Conference

On returning to Portugal, Ivens and Capelo were received with an extraordinary reception with great festivity, they were given all the honors and glories that Serpa Pinto had already had, and they became heroes not only national but also European.

King D. Luis himself went to the dock to receive them in person and to decorate them upon arrival,

There were 8 days of constant feast with bedspreads on the balconies, lighting, fireworks receptions, lunches, dinners and speeches on the heroic journey

But this festive reception was not only for Lisbon, in Porto and even Madrid and Paris received these heroes warmly and in this last city were awarded the Great Medal of Honor

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Picture 3- Cover of the book "From Angola to Contra Costa" by Roberto Ivens and Hermenegildo Capelo