Caetano do Tristao

Although the islands were known to the earliest explorers they remained uninhabited until 1615.
Caetano do Tristao, a Portuguese sardine trader, spent three months on the island when his carrack, the Sao Paulo , ran aground in a storm.
During the time it took them to repair their vessel Tristao and his company of twelve found the island most hospitable, with an abundance of fruit, nuts and birds.Consequently Tristao claimed the island for Portugal, naming it Tome- Tome. This was a rather frivolous name as it referred to the plaintive call of the now extinct Hargreaves Hornbill.