Finding your way in an unknown world - the cross staff
Collection
Kamal
Navigation
Credit: WA Museum
The kamal has been used for at least 600 years by Arab, Indian and other navigators in the Indian Ocean.
It measures the angular height of a star above the horizon. The Pole Star was most commonly used in the Northern Hemisphere because its angular height was the same as the latitude of the observer.
Knots in the kamal cord mark the latitude of particular ports.
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Finding your way in unknown waters- the kamal