The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea is a collection of writing from about 2,000 years ago in the Greek language by an Egyptian traveler. It’s a firsthand description of the various land ports known to the Ancient Egyptians, Ethiopians, Greeks, Romans, Indians, Persians and Chinese. The Eritrean Sea was the name used to refer to today’s Red Sea, Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf region. It consist of 66 chapters.

2,000 to 3,000 years ago, the most common way to travel long distances was by sailing on a boat. One of the most fascinating descriptions in the book is the LAST STOP all the way down SOUTH on the EASTERN coast of Africa called RHAPTA where the FIRE PEOPLE live and where boats are sewn together using a special kind of tree.

“Two runs beyond this island comes the very last port of trade on the coast of Azania, called Rhapta, a name derived from the sewn boats, where there are great quanties of ivory and tortoise shell.” 

The Periplus describes where these sewn boats could be found. Dhows are boats sewn together using the wood and palm leaves from coconut and palm trees found along the East African coast.

The part of the East African coast today consisting of the countries of Kenya, Tanzania, and Mozambique was known 2,000 years ago as Azania. Sailing all the way down the coast of East Africa would take you to the last stop – Rhapta.