LOST TREASURE ALONG THE SOUTH AFRICAN COAST

Table Mountain Cape Town

Some of the wrecks on the coast of South Africa are known to have been carrying valuable merchandise. Over the last 5 centuries, more than a thousand ships have been lost around the coast. The sailors of the past were a fearless fraternity. Journeys by sea were measured in months or years. Ten percent of all ships that embarked on long voyages were lost. These wrecks will be found only by chance since  most of them are buried under deep sand or lie in restricted areas. Most of the fascinating wrecks lay beyond our reach. There exists no or very little evidence regarding the cargo it carried. The following wrecks may be located after painstaking archival research and laborious underwater exploration:

HNMS Amsterdam: Wrecked in Algoa Bay in 1817. It probably carried  a valuable consignment of treasure from Java for the king of the Netherlands. It lies in deep sand.

Brederode: Wrecked in Cape Agulhas in 1785. Carried a cargo of tin and Chinese Porcelain. Lies in deep water.

Dageraad: Lies within a restricted area on the west point of Robben Island. Wrecked in 1694 and was carrying chests of specie salvaged from the Gouden Buis.

New Haarlem: Wrecked in Table Bay in 1647. It also carried a large cargo of Chinese porcelain. Shards have been found on the beach near the Milnerton lighthouse.

RMS Kafir: Wrecked south of Olifantsbos Point in 1878. Carried a box of specie belonging to the Portuguese government.

Nossa Senhora dos Milagros: Was carrying a large amount of jewellery. Lies in deep sand.

Sao Goncalo Wrecked in Plettenberg Bay in 1630. Carried a large amount of Chinese porcelain. Lies buried beneath deep sand.

Timor: Lies within a restricted area. Wrecked on the southern tip of Robben island in 1856. Some was salvaged.

SS Waldensian: Wrecked on Struis Point in 1862. Mr Joe Brown a member of the Christy Minstrels lost a silver belt encrusted with precious stones.

Silver Rider dated 1662