CMPTER I 

 INTRODUCTION 



Although the Indian Ocean occupies about 28,000^000 square 

 miles and covers lU percent of the earth's surface, it is still 

 the least kno\vTi of the three major oceans. However, exploration 

 of this ocean began at a much earlier date than in the Atlantic 

 or Pacific Oceans. 



Short Histoi^y of Exploration . Indian sailors crossed the northern 

 part of the ocean and established regular trade relations vith 

 E^ypt, Ethiopia and the Arab countries. The Arabs in turn covered 

 the same routes to visit the ports of India, Africa and the Persian 

 Gulf. During these voyages, both the Indian and Arab sailors care- 

 fully studied the vinds and currents of the northern part of the 

 ocean for navigational purposes. 



The early voyages of Indian, Arab, and later Chinese sailors 

 vere confined to the northern part of the ocean and when south of 

 the Equator, they always remained close to the coast. The southern 

 part of thg ocean was believed to be enclosed by land and the 

 southern coast of Africa appeared on maps as an extension of 

 Australia. Not until 1U8T was this conception dispelled by the 

 voyage of Bartholomew Diaz who went around the southern tip of 

 Africa into the Indian Ocean. Later, in 1^97^ Vasco da Gama con- 

 firmed the connection between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans by 

 Bailing around the southern part of Africa from the west and con- 

 tinuing on up the coast to visit the ports of India. The Dutch 

 navigator Tssraan proved, in l6h2, that the Indian Ocean was also 

 Joined to the Pacific by passing around Australia to the south. 



