It is an emerald set in a sapphire sea. A small coral island at the mouth of Mossurill Bay in the Mozambique channel in the Indian Ocean and its natural harbor was used by Arab merchants as a maritime trading station and served as an important link in the East African trade routes that stretched along the coast. This island harbor, four km off the coast of Africa, just opposite Madagascar, was for hundreds of years a major center of intercontinental maritime trade. First mentioned in Arab writings in 10th century, it is a World heritage site today. The Arab sources recorded waves that here break rhythmically along its broad, pearl – sand beaches. The first Arab settlers probably came from Hadhramawt region in Yemen. Man used the Arabian Sea as a trading route to the worlds wealth. A regular half-yearly alternation of weather conditions and winds plays a more important role on the Arabian Sea than in any other sea on earth. The Arabs had known since ancient times that they could rely on prevailing winds for long voyages beyond sight of land and were hazarding their lives on the deep water beyond their shores. Their dhow, an oceangoing vessel, was usually constructed of coconut wood or teak, the hardest and most durable timber. It was entirely seaworthy amid the comparatively mild waves of the Indian Ocean. Its triangular lateen sail was adapted to catch the slightest breeze and lend the ships maneuverability in treacherous coastal waters. Even perishable goods could be transported safely. Their remarkable meteorology of the Indian Ocean and the way in which the Arab navigators had been exploiting it for centuries made them true scientists of the sea, experienced in navigation, meteorology, geography. As early at the 8th century Arab traders entered the region along the Zambezi river in the East African interior. They brought ceramics, cloth, glass, beads, salt and metal in exchange for gold, palm, oil, rhinoceros horn, amber, valuable skins, and ivory. The dhows from Mozambique island station carried incense, gold, pearls, glass and ornaments of every variety. They returned with their holds full of rich and spicy perfumes, silk, cotton, diamonds and teakwood. The city of Sofala, the present day, Beira, on land to the Mozambique island, developed into a trade center. It used to be a city of warehouses and trading goods for East Africa and India. They traded with the old Zimbabwean empire and the stone-building peoples of Southern Africa and Botswana, a powerful indigenous African gold-trading empire in the interior of Southern Africa. Buried in the sands of the coast, there should be another older Sofala, of coral stone palaces and fine mosques. Sofala emerged a Muslim city built by an Arab Muslim ruler Musa bin As-Sembiq, though his name was erroneously corrupted to Mozambique and of which both the present day Republic of Mozambiue and the Mozambique island derive their name SAND, SEA, SKY A full moon rose out of the sea as the sun set behind the sea. Coral reef listening to the wash of waves far down the beach where the springtide had taken the sea. Black silhouettes of uncovered reef and dark patches of water. Past Islands of the Moon, the Comoros islands to Mozambique island, these were the last marts of Azania on the right hand from the land of Bernike. For after those place the unexplored ocean curves round to the west, and extending southwards in the opposite direction. Cape of Currents was the traditional southern limit of navigation in the Indian Ocean prescribed by Arab navigators. The land rose gradually above the level. Prayer by prayer, fasting by fasting. A great low-tide plain of yellow sand before them. Watching the moon and listening to singing of the coral sands in the silver sea as they approach Ilha de Mozambique, the Mozambique island, today part of Republic of Mozambique. WATER OF MEMORY The Mozambique island, has been brought to world attention anew by its classification as a World heritage site, aiming to preserve and stimulate the conservation of the wonderful old buildings, some of which are made out of coral. The entire island has been proclaimed a World heritage site. A maze of narrow streets hemmed by tall buildings with a bustling harbor and market. A long roll of history bearing the heavy burden of a strategic position, on an old crossroad on the Indian Ocean. Not so much a different place, but of a different times. From the dhow, the island looks like a floating city, an African version of a tragic Venice. A meeting point of cultures, flat roofs, designed to collect rainwater and compensate for the islands lack of freshwater spring. Smaller houses roofed with palm leaves. The Portuguese made it to the focal point of their trade and industry during 15 century. Tons of limestone were shipped in from Portugal to build what was one of the most formidable forts in Africa. It was never conquered. Today the fort is empty and haunted. The deep tankers and graceful dhows which sail into the harbor retain some flavors of old kingdoms, of Sindbad, the sailor, and Arab merchants from antiquity, and of Arabia Felix, sailing in search for wealth, knowledge and discovery. They seem to bring twentieth century prosperity to the people who carry on the tradition of an ancient sea.