This originated in the days when ships were armed with broadsides only and the salutes were fired with shotted rounds; by heading towards the other ship the salute could not be mistaken for an act of aggression.
Oku kusukela kwintsuku zamandulo apho iinqanawa zazixhobe ngamacala abanzi kwaye kwakudutyulwa izikhahlelo ngembumbulu ezinesithonga; ngokujolisa kwenye inqanawa kwaye ukhahlelo alunakuphazanyiswa nesenzo sobundlobongela.