The Western Australian Museum acknowledges and respects the Traditional Owners of their ancestral lands, waters and skies.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are advised that this digital guide may include images, sounds, and names of now deceased persons.

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A rectangular wooden block with a rope through the centre. It sits on a display labelled 'try navigating with a kamal.'

Kamal

Navigation

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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Deep Dives

A long thin wooden rod attached to the display with a rope. There is a piece of wood on the rod you can move back and forth. The display reads 'try navigating with the cross-staff.'

The Europeans Arrive - the Portuguese and the Dutch

Finding your way in an unknown world - the cross staff

Article

A rectangular wooden block with a rope through the centre. It sits on a display labelled 'try navigating with a kamal.'

The First Explorers- Arab Traders in the Indian Ocean

Finding your way in unknown waters- the kamal

Article

A rectangular wooden block with a rope through the centre. It sits on a display labelled 'try navigating with a kamal.'

The Museum's replica kamal.
Credit: WA Museum

The Western Australian Museum acknowledges and respects the Traditional Owners of their ancestral lands, waters and skies.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are advised that this digital guide may include images, sounds, and names of now deceased persons.