DIAZ, BAItTOLOMMEO, it Portuguese navigator of noble birth, who flourished during the latter half of the 15th century. Ills residence at the court of king John II. brought him into contact with many scientific men, among others the German cosmographer Behaim (q.v.). D. took a great interest in geographical discovery, and his knowledge and abilities were so highly estimated, that the king gave him the command of two vessels with a view to following up the discoveries already made by Portuguese adven turers on the w. coast of Africa. D. soon reached thijimit which had been attained in s. Atlantic navigation, and first approached land in 26' s. lat. After disembark ing at various places, and taking possession of the shores in the name of the Portuguese king, lie sailed round the southern extremity of Africa without suspecting it, and cast anchor at the mouth of the Great Fish river, a little to tlti e. of Algoa bay. A storm now rose, and drove him into Ahgoa bay. Ire there found, near Port Elizabeth, his companion-vessel, from which he had been separated before rounding the cape; but unfortunately the greater part of its crew had been murdered by the blacks. He now,
for the first time, noticed his discovery, and called the cape, in remembrance of his danger, Cabo de todos los tormentor (Cape of all the Storms)—a name which the king of Portugal afterwards changed into its present, Cabo de Buena Eqeranza (Cape of Good Hope). D. arrived in Lisbon Dec., 1487, and was at first greeted with enthusiasm, but soon saw Vasco da Gama preferred before hint, and was compelled to act under the latter in the grand expedition of 1497. Vasco da Gama even sent him back to Portugal after they had reached the Cape Verd isles, so that he had no share in the honor of discovering maritime route to the Indies. Three years after, he joined the expedition of Cabral, the discoverer of Brazil, but was lost in a storm, 29th May, 1500.