Goidhoo (Baa Atoll)
Encyclopedia
Goidhoo is one of the inhabited islands of Southern Maalhosmadulhu Atoll
, code letter "Baa".
who had been bought by the king on his Hajj trip to Mecca was formally released from slavery and was settled in Goidhu island. A house and a well were built for her. This African woman was called Salaama. She had been working for years at the palace in Malé before the ailing king released her in order to gain merit in the afterlife.
The freeing of slaves before the death of the owner was traditionally a common practice among the very high nobility in the Maldives.
Now there are some families from Goidhu that can trace their descendency to this African
ancestor.
and Fehendhu
. Goidhoo Atoll (also Goidu or Goifulhafehendhu), Horsburgh Atoll in the Admiralty Chart
, is separated from South Maalhosmadulhu by a 6 mile broad channel. This atoll is oval in shape and small, its greatest length being 10 miles. The inner lagoon has a depth of 17 to 20 fathoms; it has a sandy bottom mixed with mud and clay. Unlike the lagoons of most small atolls of the Maldives, this lagoon is free from coral heads in its centre.
In the Admiralty chart
s, this atoll is named after James Horsburgh
, hydrographer to the East India Company
and author of the long-titled Directions for Sailing to and from the East Indies, China, New Holland, Cape of Good Hope, and the interjacent Ports, compiled chiefly from original Journals and Observations made during 21 years' experience in navigating those Seas. Horsburgh's Directory was the standard work for oriental navigation in the first half of the 19th century, until Robert Moresby
's survey of the Maldives when for the first time in history accurate maps of the atolls were published.
Southern Maalhosmadulhu Atoll
Southern Maalhosmadulu Atoll is an administrative division of the Maldives. It consists of two separate natural atolls, namely the southern part of Maalhosmadulhu Atoll and the smaller natural atoll known as Goifulhafehendhu Atoll .Situated on the west...
, code letter "Baa".
Historical facts
In the 19th century, a female African slaveArab slave trade
The Arab slave trade was the practice of slavery in the Arab World, mainly Western Asia, North Africa, East Africa and certain parts of Europe during their period of domination by Arab leaders. The trade was focused on the slave markets of the Middle East and North Africa...
who had been bought by the king on his Hajj trip to Mecca was formally released from slavery and was settled in Goidhu island. A house and a well were built for her. This African woman was called Salaama. She had been working for years at the palace in Malé before the ailing king released her in order to gain merit in the afterlife.
The freeing of slaves before the death of the owner was traditionally a common practice among the very high nobility in the Maldives.
Now there are some families from Goidhu that can trace their descendency to this African
African people
African people refers to natives, inhabitants, or citizen of Africa and to people of African descent.-Etymology:Many etymological hypotheses that have been postulated for the ancient name "Africa":...
ancestor.
Horsburgh Atoll (Goifulhafehendhu)
Goidhu Island lies in a small separate atoll along with FulhaduFulhadhoo (Baa Atoll)
Fulhadhoo is one of the inhabited islands of Southern Maalhosmadulhu Atoll, code letter "Baa". It is 31.5 ha in area.-Horsburgh Atoll :...
and Fehendhu
Fehendhoo (Baa Atoll)
Fehendhoo is one of the inhabited islands of Southern Maalhosmadulhu Atoll, code letter "Baa".-Horsburgh Atoll :This island lies in a small separate atoll along with Goidhu Island and Fulhadhu...
. Goidhoo Atoll (also Goidu or Goifulhafehendhu), Horsburgh Atoll in the Admiralty Chart
Admiralty chart
Admiralty charts are nautical charts issued by the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office and subject to Crown Copyright. Over 3,000 charts are available and cover virtually the entire world in various levels of detail depending on the density of traffic and hazards...
, is separated from South Maalhosmadulhu by a 6 mile broad channel. This atoll is oval in shape and small, its greatest length being 10 miles. The inner lagoon has a depth of 17 to 20 fathoms; it has a sandy bottom mixed with mud and clay. Unlike the lagoons of most small atolls of the Maldives, this lagoon is free from coral heads in its centre.
In the Admiralty chart
Admiralty chart
Admiralty charts are nautical charts issued by the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office and subject to Crown Copyright. Over 3,000 charts are available and cover virtually the entire world in various levels of detail depending on the density of traffic and hazards...
s, this atoll is named after James Horsburgh
James Horsburgh
James Horsburgh was a Scottish hydrographer. He worked for East India Company, who mapped many seaways around Singapore in the late 18th century and early 19th century....
, hydrographer to the East India Company
British East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
and author of the long-titled Directions for Sailing to and from the East Indies, China, New Holland, Cape of Good Hope, and the interjacent Ports, compiled chiefly from original Journals and Observations made during 21 years' experience in navigating those Seas. Horsburgh's Directory was the standard work for oriental navigation in the first half of the 19th century, until Robert Moresby
Robert Moresby
Robert Moresby was a distinguished captain of the British Royal Navy. He was also an excellent hydrographer, maritime surveyor and draughtsman....
's survey of the Maldives when for the first time in history accurate maps of the atolls were published.