Umtamvuna Views: Message reveals a fascinating history
It was great fun researching the story behind last week’s ‘message in a bottle’ found on a nearby beach.
YOUR scribe has had great fun researching the story behind last week’s ‘message in a bottle’ found on a nearby beach. The story goes that it was thrown into the sea near Peru almost five years ago by a seaman aboard a four-masted sailing ship called ‘Juan Sebastian de Elcano’.
It is a training ship for future Spanish navy officers and was named after the Spanish explorer who was the first (with Magellan) to circumnavigate the world in 1522.
ALSO READ : Umtamvuna Views: Ronel finds a genuine message in a bottle
In 1519, Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan launched a Spanish expedition, the Armada de Molucca. The goal of the expedition was to find a western trade route to the Moluccas (Spice Islands). Magellan sailed across the Atlantic and discovered the strait that now bears his name, allowing him to pass through the southern tip of South America into the Pacific Ocean – which he named.
The fleet performed the first-ever crossing of the Pacific, stopping in what is today called the Philippines, and eventually reached the Moluccas to accomplish its goal. A much-depleted crew finally returned to Spain on September 6, 1522.
The fleet initially consisted of about 270 men and five ships: four carracks and one caravel. The expedition faced numerous hardships including mutinies, starvation, scurvy, storms and hostile encounters with indigenous people. Only 18 men and one ship, the Victoria, completed the return trip to Spain.
Magellan himself died in battle in the Philippine Islands and was succeeded as captain-general by Juan Sebastián Elcano, who led the Victoria’s return trip – thus the expedition is also called the Magellan-Elcano circumnavigation.
This expedition also proved, once and for all, that the world was indeed round … and not flat.
Community cleans up
At last Saturday’s International Coastal Clean-up day, communal gatherings were organised by most regional conservancies and many volunteers pitched in to collect plastic and bottles from our beautiful shoreline. Well done to all those who organised and assisted!
Volunteers arrived at Port Edward beach, but many decided to move across to the Wild Coast Sun beach to assist.
spent last Saturday’s Coastal Clean-up Day at Port Edward beach picking up litter.
The group who stayed were pleasantly surprised with a pretty clean main beach as pupils from Port Edward Primary had done a great job of cleaning during the week.
Cleaners report that apart from plastic, polystyrene has become a major culprit of pollution.
To market
There will be a double deal morning market at the Port Edward Methodist Church. One will take place this Saturday (September 28) and the second on October 5 from 8am to 12 noon.
Visitors and residents are invited to browse through the craft stalls and enjoy a breakfast, pancakes and tea or coffee.
All news to Philippa.
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