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In the 14th century, the coconuts were found to be well-established by the time the
Portuguese reached the settlements along the coast of East Africa as showcased in the
multitude of its uses particularly in ship building. The following statement was found in
one of the chronicles of the Portuguese explorers: "The vessels of this country are of a
good size and decked. There are no nails and the planks are held together by cords.
The sails are made of palm matting."
In 1519, Antonio Pigafetta, a nobleman from Venice boarded one of Magellan's five
ships to join the voyage from Spain to find a western route to the Spice Islands.
In Pigafetta's journal he mentioned that Magellan's journeys were also beset with
disease and starvation along the way and when Magellan decided to go ashore to
Guam as a last resort, the natives greeted his party wearing coconut shell rattles.
Magellan did not leave empty - handed as the natives gave them much needed
provisions, including a supply of coconuts.
Pigafetta continued to write in his journal the following statement: "Coconuts are the
fruit of the palm trees. And as we have bread, wine, oil and vinegar, so they get all
these things from the said trees ... with two these palm trees a whole family of ten can
sustain itself ... they last for a hundred years."
In 1577, Sir Francis Drake from England also wrote the following words during his
journey from England to the Cape Verde Islands (Africa's West Coast) amongst other
things we found here a kind of fruit called 'cocos' which because it is not commonly
known with us in England. I thought good to make some description of it".
Portuguese reached the settlements along the coast of East Africa as showcased in the
multitude of its uses particularly in ship building. The following statement was found in
one of the chronicles of the Portuguese explorers: "The vessels of this country are of a
good size and decked. There are no nails and the planks are held together by cords.
The sails are made of palm matting."
In 1519, Antonio Pigafetta, a nobleman from Venice boarded one of Magellan's five
ships to join the voyage from Spain to find a western route to the Spice Islands.
In Pigafetta's journal he mentioned that Magellan's journeys were also beset with
disease and starvation along the way and when Magellan decided to go ashore to
Guam as a last resort, the natives greeted his party wearing coconut shell rattles.
Magellan did not leave empty - handed as the natives gave them much needed
provisions, including a supply of coconuts.
Pigafetta continued to write in his journal the following statement: "Coconuts are the
fruit of the palm trees. And as we have bread, wine, oil and vinegar, so they get all
these things from the said trees ... with two these palm trees a whole family of ten can
sustain itself ... they last for a hundred years."
In 1577, Sir Francis Drake from England also wrote the following words during his
journey from England to the Cape Verde Islands (Africa's West Coast) amongst other
things we found here a kind of fruit called 'cocos' which because it is not commonly
known with us in England. I thought good to make some description of it".
Artist concept of Ferdinand Magellan's voyage from Spain in 1519 to find a western route to the Spice
Islands. Magellan landed in Guam and the natives gave them provisions including supply of coconuts.
Islands. Magellan landed in Guam and the natives gave them provisions including supply of coconuts.
Brief History of the Coconut
