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Ras al Milh (Cap d’Ambre)

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Ibn Majid (1470) is the only author mentioning this place.

The most northern cape of Madagascar has no known medieval site.

Ibn Majid in his Hawiya mentions at 11 fingers: Ras al-Milh at 12°S; Kilwa at 9°S, Angaziga at 11.6°S (=Grand Comore), Hanzuwani at 12.3°S (=Anjouan), Mulali at 12.3°S (=Moheli) (Dumuni which he also mentions is a city on Anjouan).

 

Taken from: Taken from: Madagascar, Comores et Mascareignes à travers la Hawiya d'Ibn Magid (866 H. /1462). Par François VIRE et Jean-Claude HEBERT.

 

Ras al-Milh is Cape Amber, at latitude 11° 57° South. The height given by Ibn Majid places it about half a degree too far north, but this theoretical error could, in fact, only favor practical navigation since the doubling of the cape from west to east most often imposed a route to the north sometimes leading as far as the Seychelles (ar. Zarin).

This dual name is found in the toponymy of the Malagasy ports, a certain number of which are Persian, perhaps the first Chirazians who would then have arrived before the Portuguese, contrary to what certain Comorian traditions say.

 

According to oral histories however; It was also from Arabia that the first inhabitants of Bobaomby would have come: the Anjoaty (who are often found in the texts in the form "Onjatsy"). This arrival of the men of the sea is surrounded by legends: According to Grandidier (1901) "The Onjatsy live in the northernmost province of Madagascar, Ankarana, especially on the coast between Cap d'Ambre and Ampanobe, a river that flows into the sea a little south of Vohemar... they came from Arabia and first inhabited one of the islands of the Mozambique Channel which they had to leave after long and bloody wars; the survivors took refuge in the north of Madagascar where some landed at Majunga or Anorontsanga, and others at Cap d'Ambre itself, in the small bay of Antsiramasina”.

The name of Antsiramasina (a bay of Cap d'Ambre) was given to this bay precisely in memory of the landing in this place of Onjatsy, which, in the eyes of the natives, are "masina", it is to say saints, skillful magicians [...] They have influence on the other Malagasy, who believe them endowed with supernatural powers, "hasim-bava" (lit: having the holy mouth).

 

According to oral history also there used to be an old settlement in the bay of Ampanasina but it remains undiscovered. A. Jully (Les immigrations Arabes à Madagascar) mentions in the bay some vestiges of walls that the natives attribute them to the Antalaotras (overseas men).

 

According to the South Indian Ocean Pilot: (1927-US government) the Bay of Lotsoina gave shelter to ships waiting to round Cape Amber.