ALEXANDRE ALBERTO DE LA ROCHA SERPA

See also:

• PINTO
• PINTO, ANIBAL (1825–1884)
• PINTO, FERNAO MENDES (1509–1583)

PINTO (1846–1900)  , Portuguese explorer in Africa, was born at the castle of Polchras, on the Douro, on the roth cif April 1846 . Entering the army in 1864, he served in Mozambique, and in 1869 took part in an expedition against tribes in revolt on the lower Zambezi . In 1877 he and Captains Capello and Ivens of the Portuguese navy were sent on an expedition to south central Africa . The explorers left Benguella in November 1877 for the interior, but Serpa Pinto soon parted from his colleagues, who went north, while Serpa Pinto continued east . He crossed the Kwando in June 1878, and in August reached Lialui, the Barotse capital on the Zambezi, where he received help from the Rev . F . Coillard which enabled him to continue his journey down the river to the Victoria Falls, whence he turned south, arriving at Pretoria on the 12th of February 1879 . He was the fourth explorer to traverse Africa from west to east, and was the first to lay down with approximate accuracy the route between Bihe and Lialui . Among other rewards the Royal Geographical Society of London awarded him (1881) the Founder's medal . The account of his travels appeared in English under the title How I crossed Africa (2 vols., London, 1881) . In 1884 he at-tempted, with less success, the exploration of the regions between Mozambique and Lake Nyasa . Appointed governor of Mozambique in 1889, he organized an expedition with the object of securing for Portugal the Shire highlands and neighbouring regions, but the vigorous action of the British -agents (John Buchanan and H .

H .

Johnston) frustrated this design (see AFRICA, § 5) . Shortly afterwards Serpa Pinto returned to Lisbon and was promoted to the rank of colonel . He died on the 28th of December 19co .