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An important trading vessel on the lake beginning ca. 1880. Use declined toward the mid-20th century, but some now serve as feeders to rail lines, especially in the shallow southern part of the lake. Built mainly by shipwrights brought from the Indian Ocean coast, primarily from Lamu. Besides carrying miscellaneous cargoes, the dhows engaged in fishing and at one time were active in smuggling. Open or half-decked; wide transom stern curved and raked stem; flat floors; maximum beam well forward; outboard rudder. Planking fastened with large iron spikes. Shelter provided by sheets of corrugated iron. Single quadrilateral lateen-type sail with a short luff set to a forward-raking or vertical mast. Large vessels employed crew of 14-20; the fishing boats ca. 5. Capacity varied with their fluctuating popularity, ranging from ca. 8-70t; fishing dows were ca. 7.6m long, 1.8m wide, draft 0.76m.

Tanzania 1990;25s;SG801.
Source : A Dictionary of the world’s Watercraft from Aak to Zumbra.

Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyika 1935 5c and 50c sg 111 and 116
Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyika 1938 5c (Two colors), 25c, 50c sg 132,133,140 and 144e.