Shipwreck Databases Western Australian Museum

Corrieo de Azia

On 25 November 1816, the Correo de Azia, a Portuguese ship, came to grief after suffering a fire in the binnacle. They were situated near Point Cloates. The Captain and crew abandoned ship into the launch, unable to save anything except 3 barrels of biscuits and 3 containers of water. They navigated NNE until they rounded the Point and then looked for a suitable inlet to pull into and prepare the launch to get to their destination. Apparently there was apprehension among the crew about natives, although none were said to have been seen. When the launch was ready to set off again, two men were missing, and assuming they were killed either by natives or animals, they were left behind. Although there is no direct evidence of contact here, the two missing men pose a question. Evidence from natives elsewhere at other incidents would suggest that they could have been watching the crew, without the crew being aware of this. The two men could of course, just have wandered off and become lost. Fortuitously, these men were rescued by an American ship , the Caledonia, soon after. This is yet another intriguing episode that deserves more attention, especially if more could be found out concerning the two missing men. It is the only wreck incident concerning a Portuguese ship, although the Portuguese were very active in both exploration and trade in the Indian and Pacific Oceans during the 16th and 17th centuries. It has been suggested that a Portuguese colony sprang up in the Buccaneer Archipelago area of the Kimberley coast in the 1520’s. Dr Carl von Brandenstein suggests that there are a number of Portuguese words in Aboriginal languages from the Kimberley area and between Port Hedland and Dampier. He suggests that these latter are from shipwrecked Portuguese sailors mingling with Aboriginal tribes. This is problematic, although Dr von Brandensteins theories about language are interesting. The Aboriginal people that may have had contact with the missing men is the Thalanyji.

Associated Tribe Thalanyji

Contact Evidence Possible

Type of contact Unknown

Year 1816

Nationality Portuguese

Location Pt Cloates

Source European