A cannon from a shipwreck discovered in 1977. In 1647, the Sacramento, a large Portuguese galleon, set out on her maiden voyage. The ship was carrying a huge cargo of cannons destined for King João IV of Macau (then a Portuguese colony in China), as well as silk, porcelain, and spices. During a storm, the overloaded vessel crashed on the coastal rocks and sank, an ignominious end for the galleon.

The 2,500-kilogram cannon is one of about 40 cannons that were raised from the wreck in 1977. Nicknamed the “miracle cannon” because it was so well preserved and had the same bronze luster when it was salvaged as it had the day it was cast. It has the light green patina that weathered bronze takes on, but the name of the Bocarro foundry where it was cast and the Macau coat of arms are still clearly visible, along with the intricate half-man, half-dolphin lifting lugs.

The memorial tells the tragically remarkable story of the 72 survivors of the Sacramento who struggled ashore and, with no ports on the South African coast at the time and little chance of rescuing passing ships, undertook a perilous 1,300 kilometre journey to what was then called Delagoa Bay, or modern-day Maputo. Six months later, in January 1648, the nine survivors arrived at Delagoa Bay.