  I was handsome and admired by many women
by Tissa Hewavitarana
In the days of steam ships every
seaport was dangerous for the sea farer. At the mercy of winds and tides
Arabs were the first to take their ships along the shallow reef-ridden
waters of the Arabian coast, with cargoes of dates. textiles and pearls
for India and beyond, and brought back rice, timber as well as coffee.
For 500 years or more this maritime trade was the lifeblood of the
Arabs. From early times the trade route between Mesopotamia and the
Indus Valley developed a prosperous transit trade. These traders had to
escape from natural disasters as well as sea pirates.
The Gulf was one of the perilous sea routes in the world. Therefore,
they looked to an essential aid to navigate in narrow dangerous waters.
They introduced a source of light by open fires and later candles and as
time passed it was finally converted to electricity which automatically
lit the lamp at nightfall and extinguished it at dawn. This is how I was
brought to this world. I am tall and distinctive in column shape. From
my young days I was burdened with a big responsibility.
My task is to send patterns of coloured light or flashes and was
known as a lighthouse. I had to be healthy and strong. My anatomy was
made of stone or concrete that holds a light. Some lighthouses are built
of iron or stone to withstand powerful storms and sea waves.
Usually we are mostly found on rocks or sand banks, or islands near
harbours or ports to guide sailors at night. We can be seen for a
distance of many kilometres and are wide at the base and narrow at the
top. I have become an essential aid to navigators in narrow and
dangerous waters. My main task is to indicate to sailors the low lying
reefs or sand banks where ships might run aground.
By now I have become a handsome man and my body admired by every
woman. Some wanted me to be with them during their happier times and
during sorrow, dating and meeting them every now and then.
Many sought my help to be at their best occasions when celebrated,
ships are welcomed in every port where they throw lavish tarmashas
during weddings, national events and birthdays. I am proud and happy
that every celebrity such as the Queen Elizabeth, the Castle, and many
other passenger ships and cargo ships, were guided by me to safety. |
