Feo, Bento Teixeira | First edition of this shipwreck narrative, written by one of its survivors

Feo, Bento Teixeira

Relação do naufragio que fizeram as naos Sacramento e N. Senhora da Atalaya. Lisboa: na officina Craesbeckiana, 1650

4to (180 x 130 mm). Disbound. Woodcut initials; title page with a very minor repair, cropped leaves affecting a few page numbers, slight loss to inner margins of a few gatherings (F–G2), a few holes, marginal dampstaining throughout. Edges speckled red; lightly soiled and rubbed. Modern half calf over marbled board folding case, spine with gilt bands, red morocco labeling piece gilt-lettered.

First edition of a rare narrative of two deadly Portuguese shipwrecks, from one of their scant survivors.

Setting sail together in February 1647 from Goa, the Sacramento and Nossa Senhora de Atalaya were in bad condition to begin with, leading to their eventual shipwreck off the coast of South Africa. Originally unaware of the other's disaster, the survivors of both maritime tragedies would eventually reconvene and begin their treacherous journey to Portuguese-controlled Mozambique. Of the 72 survivors who reached the shores of KwaZulu-Natal, only 5 Portuguese crewmen and 4 African slaves lasted the full journey. 

Aboard the Sacramento and one of the few to make it back alive was Bento Teixeira Feo, a treasury official based in India. Comprised from interviews at the bequest of the King, Relação provides vast detail of encounters with the terrain, animals, vegetation, and native peoples of Southeast Africa. 

REFERENCES

Arouca F47; Barbosa Machado I, 502; Boxer, "An Introduction to the História Trágico-Marítima," in Miscelânea de Estudos em honra do Prof. Hernâni Cidade, p. 86, no. 17A; Bell, Portuguese Literature, pp. 217-8; Goldsmith, Short Title Catalogue of Spanish and Portuguese Books 1601-1700 in the Library of the British Museum S18; Innocêncio I, 354; Figanière, Bibliographia historica portugueza 1056; Forjaz de Sampaio, História da literatura portuguesa ilustrada III, 214