Taken from : G.R. Tibbetts 1971 Arab navigation in the Indian Ocean before the coming of the Portuguese.

The Manuscript

Folio2r

......for this is a science without which one cannot measure the Qibla (1) of Islam accurately, and everything that I say and do will show just how accurate we can be. For how long a time have we sailed in ships from India and Syria, the coast of Africa (Zanj) and Persia, the Hijaz and the Yemen and other places, ...

Folio2v-3r

The first man who organized such a thing and built a ship was Noah; on the advice of the Almighty through Gabriel. This ship was put together in the form of the five stars of Great Bear, and the stern of the ark is the third star of the Bear and the keel is the fourth, fifth and sixth stars, while its bow is the seventh star. Till now the people of Zanj, Komr, from Mrima (or Al-Rim)(the coast near Mombasa till Zanzibar) and from the land of Sofala call the 5th and 6th star of the big bear al--kirab (or al-Hirab)"the keel of the ship" - these are two stars used for determining latitudes at the culmination of al-Sarfa (3) when the Faraqid (4) are invisible - for from these two, the form of the keel of Noah's ship was taken.

Folio13v

Al-Nathra (5). This rises at dawn after the 247th day of the year and at its culmination, the Farqad (4) is used (when it has equal altitude) with the Pole Star and is on the east of it. The bashi there is just under one isba. Al Qaid (6) is then used with al-Dil (7) for latitudes and the 7th of the Plough (al-Qaid) when rising with al-Aiyuq (8) when setting and these are used on the equator and into the southern climates and under the wind as for example in Java and that neighborhood and in Madagascar and in Zanj.

Folio24v

The most auspicious of the auspicious ones (Sa'd al-Su'ud). It is a southern lunar mansion and in the constellation of the Goat (9) according to all the early authorities but the people of Zanj at the date of this book regard it as part of Aquarius (10).

Folio41r

As for the tirfa al-rahawiyat (11), here we have more accuracy because of experience, general management,  use and calculation on such routes as those from Munaibar (12) to al-Atwah (13), from Gujerat (14) to al-Zanj, or from Sadjam (Sadgaon) (15) to the end of Siam, (i.e. courses using a bearing from SW by W through S to SE by E or thereabouts).

Folio50v

After this comes the use of the sixth star of the Plough at 8 deg. P.S. with al-Sharatan (16) setting at 8 deg P.S. A more generally useful (measurement) cannot possibly be found in the whole of the heavens......

I have pursued it for many years in the northern climates from 12 deg P.S. until the Pole Star disappears. It is used from the coast of Java to Zanj and China, in all the seas of the world....

Folio53v

In Jawa on the west coast is a harbor called Shunda, which is also a cape. At the same latitude in Zanj is Mombasa, and people do not disagree over this for it is well known.....

The Plough (G.B.) is 12 isba (fingers) in the land of Zanj and Madagascar and we have mentioned it all in the Hawiya (17) and everyone agrees with it...

Folio59r

Al-Munji (bird often described as a sign that land is close)is found on the coasts of Zanj and Somalia. Kuraik (another bird often described as a sign that land is close) is found nearer to the coast than Al-Munji and is not an accurate sign when the Pole Star is higher than 11 deg anywhere in the world. The sea snake can not be missed by anyone who travels from Mulaibar (12) to Somalia (the sea snake was seen as the first sign one notices when land is close) . The truth is that from the coast of Madagascar a reef stretches out under water to somewhere between al-Fal (18) and Soqotra and it contains hawass and tannur. (small sea creatures)

Folio64r

Then you take the coast to the east and it passes the land of Barabir (Berbera) as far as the borders of Failak (19). This is the Somali coast and the end of the Abyssinian coast on the east and the north and when you see Bandar Musa (20) and Guardafui (21) the coast turns south towards Hafuni (22). When you have passed this, the coast stretches out to the south inclining to the west as far as the end of al-Zanj and the land of Sofala. One passes by places inhabited and uninhabited, waters and mountains whom no one knows except God, and this is stretched out to the south, a distance along the coast of three months. It is the land of south eastern Abyssinia and there are many ports for travelers, the best known of which are Moqadishu, Barawa, Mombasa, Kilwa and the land of Sofala and its estuaries and there are mines of gold. When you reach that place (Sufala) the island of al-Qumr (Madagascar) falls away on your left but the land comes to an end on your right and turns towards the west and north. There are deserts and inlets, the first of the darkness when the sun is in Cancer (23).  The land turns back from there to the land of Kanim (or Kanem) (24), which is in the possession of the descendants of Sayf b. Dhi Yazan (or Saif b. Dhu'l-Yazal)(last pre-Mohammedan ruler of Yemen, the rulers of Kanem and Bornu claim descend of him.) . They are a white people to the south of the Sudan (51)(who are white) on account of the distance of the sun from them in the north, like the whiteness of the Turks and the distance of the sun from them in the south. As for the blackness of the Sudan, it is because they are being burnt by the sun, for they are close to the Equator near to the sun all the time. When you get beyond the Kanim you come to the land of the al-Wahat(Oases) (25), which is near to the land of the Westerners. In the old days the pepper road (tariq al-fulful) was from this place. When you come to the land of the westerners it is near to Masa (26), which is the place that held back Yunus (upon him to be peace) and the fish swallowed him while he was blameworthy.  When you have passed this place you come to Asifi (27), a well known place in the Maghrib. You have now really reached the Maghribi coast. When you approach it you enter into the gate of Sabta. (Straits of Gibraltar) 

Folio67r

Know, oh seeker, that every man knows his own coast best; the Chinese China; the people of Sofala; Sofala; the Indians , India; the people of Hijaz, the Hijaz; the Syrians, Syria...

Folio68r-68v

"The next island after it in size is that of *al-Qumr*. This is an island at the present time. Opinions differ as to its longitude and latitude (?length and breadth) because it only borders on the inhabited regions of the world, and the occupied climates of the world, hence there is an element of doubt about it. They say in the Great Books that it is the largest inhabited island in the world and its longitude is approximately 20 degrees. Between it and the coasts and islands of Sofala are other islands and banks, but these do not prevent travelers from traveling among them. The island is called al-Qumr after Qamiran b. Amir b. Sam b. Nuh (28) and to its south is the sea known to the Greeks as Uqiyanus (Ocean) which is known to the Arabs as the 'Ocean which encircles the world'. Here is the beginning of the southern Dark regions to the south of this island." [Note; Vagueness owing to 'recent discovery' and fewer visits than to African regions.]

Folio69v

Zanzibar. "The seventh island is that of Zanzibar, extending from the coast of Zanj, covered with trees and containing rivers. In it are 40 districts which are governed by Muslim Sultans, but on the coast of the mainland above it they are infidel. It is an unhealthy island and the ancients say in their works of history that there are two unhealthy islands one in the extreme south which is this island and one in the extreme north which is Bahrain (which is also called Awal and is especially unhealthy when the sun is in Libra (29), for when the citrus turns yellow the fever and sickness begins). The poet has said about this:

When your spring sojourn in Awail has ended and the winter draws near, then evil becomes the sojourn.

Also the beginning of the Saba wind (30) and the end of the Damani wind (31), is the correct season if you wish to cross from the Atwah (32) coast or from Hormuz, but from the Yemen it is not possible at the beginning of the Saba and the end of al-Dabur. This is also the season for most ships crossing from Madagascar to Zanj and al-Rim and Hormuz and India and from Jawa to Mallaca and Sumatra and all places below in the southern climates up into the northern climates.

Folio72r-72v

One should not come out from the Atwah coast to Yemen along the coastal route after the 80th day (10feb), and similarly to the land of al-Handiya (Somali tribe) from al-Atwah and from Gujerat and Mulaibar, for fear that he runs into the Kaws (W S-W wind) before he reaches his destination.

Folio74v-75r

Traveling from India to al-Zanj should be done up to the 80th day of the year (10th feb), it being no good after that (this to arrive in Zanzibar before the beginning of the SW monsoon in early March) and those who travel from Aden and Yemen to Zanj should start on the 320th or the 330 th day (8th , 18th oct). (this to round Cape Guardafui on the last of the westerly winds and then catch the NE monsoon in the Arabian sea.) From Sihr (33) he should go 20 days later and from Zafar (34) from the beginning of the Saba wind (this is the NE monsoon) to the 70th day (31st Jan)(later then this you will run into the SW monsoon close to Zanzibar)  no harm will befall him for he is riding on the Saba winds and the same rule applies to him as applies to someone coming from Hormuz.

From the East Indies to Africa and back

Know the occurrences of all the seasons and winds. (The season for sailing) from Manaqabuh (35) and Fansur (36) and the ocean side of Sumarta to the African coast begins on the 60th day of the year (21th jan) and is not good at any other time.(because at this date the NE monsoon reaches its furthest southern extension and will remain there till the monsoon change off Zanzibar in March)  The same applies from Sunda bari (37) and Lasem (38) in Java. The journey from Madagascar to the African coast has two seasons, at the beginning of the Kaws which is a weak season and at the end of the Kaws which is also weak. But the people of all the southern climates, when they which to sail at the end of the Dabur (39) winds have to put up with rains as far as the equator and this is sufficient (on these monsoons). Similarly with people from Sofala and the estuary region (Akhwar) to the Zanj coast and from the land of Timor to Jawa and the neighboring places, from Maluku (40), al-Ghur (Taiwan) and Jawa and all the Islands of the south : they only travel at the end of the Damani wind, every man in accordance with the suitability of his place and his boat. (this is from mid-November to the first of April during the NE monsoon).

Folio76r-76v

Miscellaneous seasons for approaching certain ports.

Know that approaches to al-Hadd (41) begin on the 140th day of the year (11th April), and the same at Guardafui. They begin on the 150th day, at Hafuni and at Masira (42) on the 160th (1st May) ........

Approaching Soqotra at or before the 100th day (2nd March) is better than approaching Guardafui or Samha (43) or Darza which should be approached around the 120th day (22nd March)........

It does no good to get too near Soqotra except when necessary in the Kaws winds when coming from Hormuz or from Zanzibar to Zafar. The best time for approaching Soqotra and Qalhat (44) is up to the 130th day and never later........(the problem with Soqotra is that during the SW monsoon a strong easterly current flows south of Soqotra and this must be avoided.)

Folio76v

Seasons from the north to al-Zanj

The beginning of the travel season from Rim coast and the land of Moqadishu to Zanj and Madagascar is before the New Year by a few days until (the end of) the Tirma (45) when one should fear the Kaws winds, for there are always breezes of the Kaws winds at the time of the Tirma on the Zanj route. How many times has a man coming from India at the end of the Indian season found the Kaws winds causing him to return and put into Aden: and he will never touch Zanj.(the NE monsoon is so weak by the time it reaches Zanzibar that ships fail to reach it).  He who travels from Gujerat in the 90th day (20 feb) takes a great risk. Know these seasons and these rules.  

Folio78v

(Every late traveler enters Shatijam (46)

When he comes from India and the Maldives, so be silent)

The people of Madagascar come out towards Zanj and those

Who desire Hormuz from Zanj or Aden.

The resolute man would not aim for Bahrain

Except its own people, for diving has ceased at this time.

Similarly from Shatt al-Furat (47) and its land

Some find it possible out of necessity if they have cargoes.

If a star appears at the beginning of al-Durura (48),

Set out from al-Ahqaf (49) to al-Zanj with sure knowledge.

Had a man set out from Zafar later than this.

It would not matter either in al-Al'la (50) or any place.

(1) Qibla: the direction towards the Kaaba in the Sacred Mosque in Mecca used as the direction of prayer.

(2) Hijaz: the province of Mecca.

(3) al-Sarfa: is the second-brightest star in the zodiac constellation of Leo.

(4) Faraqid: two Guards: Within the constellation Ursa Minor, the stars al-Faraqid, al Farqadan (Fraqid Farqad).

(5) Al-Nathra: star from the constellation of Cancer.

(6) Al Qaid: of the plough (Big Bear).

(7) al-Dil (al-Zil): from the constellation  Andromeda.

(8) al-Aiyuq: Aiiuk; (Bar): Ibrahim Khoury has Capella: sixth brightest star in the night sky and the brightest in the constellation Auriga.

(9) constellation of the Goat; Capricornus its name means “the goat” in Latin, and it is represented as a goat with the tail of a fish.

(10) Aquarius: is a constellation of the zodiac. Its name is Latin for "water-carrier". It has no particularly bright stars.

(11) tirfa al-rahawiyat: i.e. a rotatory tirfa or one of a rhumb (a line or course on a single bearing) close to the poles (rotates around the pole).

(12) Munaibar: al Munaybar or Manibar or Malibar (India)

(13) al-Atwah (here: southern Arab coast), In the Suffaliya an African Atwah is translated as: means wilderness, place where ships get lost.

(14) Gujerat: North-western part of India.

(15) Sadjam (Sadgaon): Chittagong is large port city on the southeastern coast of Bangladesh.

(16) al-Sharatan: (the bruised or wounded) second brightest star of Aries.

(17) Hawiya: see my webpage Ibn Majid: (1462) Hawija

(18) al-Fal: (Laccadive + Maldives)

(19) Failak: In N-Somalia between Maydh and Guardafui.

(20) Bandar Musa: On the North Coast of Socotra Island.

(21) Guardafui: Al Jardafun: Cape Guardafui, Ra's Jardafun, Ra's 'Asir.

(22) Hafuni: Hafouni: Ras Djafary or Cape Hafun; a promontory in the northeastern Bari region of Somalia.

(23) Cancer: is one of the twelve constellations of the zodiac and is located in the Northern celestial hemisphere. Its name is Latin for crab and it is commonly represented as one.

(24) Kanim (or Kanem): in West Africa.

(25) al-Wahat(Oases): According to ibn Majid these oases are just south of Morocco.

(26) Masa: Between Ifne and Agadir.

(27) Asifi; to the north of Masa, the modern Safi.

(28) The island is called al-Qumr after Qamiran b. Amir b. Sam b. Nuh: Ibn Majid is the only one to write this. In all other texts Qumr is named after the Khmer people (South-East Asia) colonising Madagascar or after The Mountain of Qumr the legendary sources of the Nile which was supposed to be close by. Note that Sem or Shem son of Noah is said to be the ancestor of all the black people.

(29) Libra: is a constellation of the zodiac and is located in the Southern celestial hemisphere. Its name is Latin for weighing scales. It is fairly faint.

(30) Saba wind; the north-easterly wind.

(31) Damani wind: comes from the south-west.

(32) Atwah coast: maybe southern Arab coast, means wilderness, place where ships get lost.

(33) Sihr; coastal town in Hadhramaut in eastern Yemen.

(34) Zafar: or Dhafar is an ancient Himyarite site situated in Yemen, some 130 km south-south-east of today's capital, Sana'a.

(35) Manaqabuh: on the lower part of the west coast of Sumatra also called Minangkabau.

(36) Fansur: now Barus North Sumatra Province.

(37) Sunda bari: The Sunda are a people on Java.

(38) Lasem in Java: Located between Tuban and Jepara.

(39) Dabur winds: the south west wind.

(40) Maluku: the Moluccas (Molukken) are an archipelago in the east of Indonesia.

(41) al-Hadd: (promontory in SE of Oman)

(42) Masira: island of Oman, in the Arabian Sea, off the country's southeastern coast.

(43) Samha: is an inhabited island in the Guardafui Channel. A part of the Socotra archipelago, it is located between the island of Socotra and Somalia.

(44) Qalhat: The ancient port-city of Qalhat in northeastern Oman.

(45) Tirma: end of the Kaws are called Tirma or Dimani (south-west monsoon)

(46) Shatijam: Sadjam (Sadgaon): Chittagong is large port city on the southeastern coast of Bangladesh.

(47) Shatt al-Furat: the Euphrates river.

(48) al-Durura: Tibbetts says he does not know but that it must be a star rising around 28 octobre.

(49) al-Ahqaf: Valley of Ahqaf in Yemen.

(50) al-Al'la: Tibbetts says; most probably not a place name but the meaning seems to be: no harm in trying.

(51) Zanj people of white (or red) complexion: Several authors mention them: Istakhri (957); Ibn-Hawqal (970); Manuscript of Al Malik al Afdal al-Abbas (1372); Ahmad ibn Majid al-Najid (1462): Kitab al-Fawa'id. In all cases they speak of faraway lands, so not easily reached. My only guess here is the Afroasiatic people from the Horn of Africa who did indeed extended their habitat till the interior of south Tanzania in those centuries (pastoralists). Among their descendants in Tanzania (now farmers) there are still some (very few) very light skinned people (among the Wambulu or Iraqw tribe). Other information on this: When Hypothesis Becomes Myth: The Iraqi Origin of the Iraqw by Ole Bjørn Rekdal. As to Al Malik al Afdal al-Abbas (1372) his white people at Sufala of the Zang (in Mozambique) must have been Austronesian colonisers who had taken over Madagascar and also had some settlements on the coast and smaller islands. His white people among the Bagga land of Berbera; those are also Afroasiatic people. Ibn Majid: Fawa’id (1462) sees them from the most southern point of Africa till Kanem in West Africa. He says: They are a white people to the south of the Sudan. These do not exist.