Page 109 - Arabian Studies (I)

Arabia in the Fifteenth-century Navigational Texts 93

mention Ra’s BTsh which is probably Ra’s Jibsh. Ghubba Tihan of
Ibn Majid which is probably the same as Sidi Celebi’s Ghubba Tin is a
dangerous bay near Ghubbat al-Hashlsh and Ra’s al-Marizah (the
Cape of the sea-snake) must be also in this locality. Altogether there
is no lack of place names in this area but the uncertainty of their
order and the irregularity of the latitude equivalent for them must
show that the navigators used this coast as little as possible. On the
other hand the bearings given for the south coast of Arabia overall
are fairly accurate. The extra large distance between Sauqirah and
Madrakah is taken up by a certain amount of shortening between
Aden and Fartak.
Ra’s al-Hadd was probably the most important point in the whole
of the Arabian coast for the Arab navigators. It was a convenient
place from which to leave Arabia for India as it was on the same
latitude as Zajd (Cape Dwarka) in Gujerat. The latter was a very
prominent landmark and the two capes could be reached from each
other by running along the latitude line. Thus this shipping lane must
have been one of the most frequented lanes of the Indian Ocean.
Ships from Maskat would use this latitude to cross to India, as well as
the fleets from Hormuz and the Persian Gulf, although bearings are
also given for a route along the coast of Mekran. Some ships from the
south would have used this route too. The usual return route to
Maskat and Hormuz was Viisba‘ to the north of the latitude of
Maskat, for Ra’s al-Hadd was also a dangerous cape and in this way
one arrived at the Arabian coast well clear of the cape. In spite of
this the texts mention the dangers of arriving at the Arabian coast at
al-Hadd. The cape itself was a low promontory with mountains some
distance behind and it was therefore easy to run on to. It was also a
dividing point between two wind systems and the confluence of
opposing currents; a traveller sailing to the south of the cape when he
required to go to the north would be in utmost difficulty and
similarly vice versa. Ra’s al-Hadd was also known as Ra’s al-Jum-
jumah to the navigators.
Maskat was the home port of Ibn Majid and he has a lot to say
about it and the Oman coast when dealing with the coasts of the
world in the ninth fa'idah. ‘Maskat is a port the like of which cannot
be found in the whole world. There can be found business and good
things which cannot be found elsewhere. It is the port of Oman
where year by year the ships load up with men, fruit, horses and they
sell in it cloth, vegetable oils, new slaves and grain and all ships aim
for it. It is safe in every wind and possesses fresh water and a !
hospitable and sociable people who love strangers.’8 Sulaiman gives
routes from here to India and sailing dates are given specifically by