Coastline profiles of Sal and Maio, Capeverdian Islands

In April 1601 the Moluccan fleet of the Fifth Expedition (Vijfde Schipvaart) organised by the Oude Compagnie set off from the Dutch Republic. The objective of the fleet was to continue the highly profitable Dutch trade in spices in the Moluccas which had been initiated by the Second Expedition (Tweede Schipvaart) in the previous years. The ships began their journey sailing south and passed Portugal by the middle of May. After passing the Madeira group of islands the expedition continued south towards the African west coast, passing the Cape Verde islands.

The journal of the ship Gelderland contains these coastline profiles of Sal and Majo, two of the Cape Verde Islands. According to the descriptions, the top panel shows Sal as seen on the morning of 24 May 1601. It shows the island when it is east-southeast, southeast by east and west. The text under the first panel says it shows the island at 2,5 miles distance in northeast by east direction. Below, we see two profiles of Maio, from 2 resp. 1 leagues distance.

Joris Joostensz. Laerle, onderstuurman on board of the Zeeland and later artist on board of the Gelderland is seen as the most likely author of these coastline profiles of Maio in the journal of admiral Wolfert Harmensz. of the Gelderland.