Zanzibar Dhow | National Geographic

for centuries the winds of the Indian

for centuries the winds of the Indian Ocean have brought explorers and

Ocean have brought explorers and

Ocean have brought explorers and merchants to the island of Zanzibar in

merchants to the island of Zanzibar in

merchants to the island of Zanzibar in rough seas and monsoon weather one ship

rough seas and monsoon weather one ship

rough seas and monsoon weather one ship has sustained trade and travel the Dow

has sustained trade and travel the Dow

has sustained trade and travel the Dow at one hundred and fifty feet this is

at one hundred and fifty feet this is

at one hundred and fifty feet this is the biggest Dow constructed on Zanzibar

the biggest Dow constructed on Zanzibar

the biggest Dow constructed on Zanzibar for some time the Somali merchant who

for some time the Somali merchant who

for some time the Somali merchant who commissioned it has waited four long

commissioned it has waited four long

commissioned it has waited four long years to see it finished built without

years to see it finished built without

years to see it finished built without plans or power tools even the wooden

plans or power tools even the wooden

plans or power tools even the wooden hull is fastened together using the hard

hull is fastened together using the hard

hull is fastened together using the hard air roots of mangrove trees instead of

air roots of mangrove trees instead of

air roots of mangrove trees instead of nails but the final product is a sailing

nails but the final product is a sailing

nails but the final product is a sailing ship tough enough to withstand the power

ship tough enough to withstand the power

ship tough enough to withstand the power of the Indian Ocean and the force of

of the Indian Ocean and the force of

of the Indian Ocean and the force of monsoon winds for as long as anyone can

monsoon winds for as long as anyone can

monsoon winds for as long as anyone can remember

remember

remember constant winds have buffeted the swahili

constant winds have buffeted the swahili

constant winds have buffeted the swahili coast

coast

coast the predictability of these wins made

the predictability of these wins made

the predictability of these wins made international trade possible but it was

international trade possible but it was

international trade possible but it was the ingenuity of the Dow’s design that

the ingenuity of the Dow’s design that

the ingenuity of the Dow’s design that made it practical there are dozens of

made it practical there are dozens of

made it practical there are dozens of different kinds of doubt from every

different kinds of doubt from every

different kinds of doubt from every country bordering the Indian Ocean but

country bordering the Indian Ocean but

country bordering the Indian Ocean but they all share one common teacher their

they all share one common teacher their

they all share one common teacher their sail traditional European ships depended

sail traditional European ships depended

sail traditional European ships depended on having the wind behind them but the

on having the wind behind them but the

on having the wind behind them but the dowels adjustable sail could be turned

dowels adjustable sail could be turned

dowels adjustable sail could be turned to catch the wind in any direction

to catch the wind in any direction

to catch the wind in any direction Swahili sailors love the chance to

Swahili sailors love the chance to

Swahili sailors love the chance to display their skills

for the sailors of Zanzibar these

for the sailors of Zanzibar these age-old ships continue to be at the

age-old ships continue to be at the

age-old ships continue to be at the heart of a rich maritime tradition

heart of a rich maritime tradition

heart of a rich maritime tradition [Music]