DIAS, DINS

flourished 15th century Portuguese navigator and explorer, one of the sea captains sent by Prince Henry the Navigator to open trade with countries of Africa, the Middle East, and India. As captain of a caravel in 1445, Dias sailed past the outflooding mouth of the river of Senegal, later discovering Cape Verde, the westernmost point of Africa. Dias chose the name Green Cape because the headland had tall trees and fragrant vegetation. Dias and his crew were repulsed by natives when they tried to land and soon returned to Portugal. In 1446 Prince Henry formed a fleet of caravels that were to show the Portuguese flag along the African coast and explore the river of Senegal, which the Portuguese believed was the western branch of the Nile. Dias commanded one of the vessels.