208

HISTORY OF MARINE ARCHITECTURE.

floor, and their consequent shallow draught of water, allow them with very littledifficulty to elude the pursuit of an enemy built according to those principleswhich are common in Europe. If not in imitation of, at least in similitude to,the Mediterranean galleys, these vessels are furnished with long projecting prows,which are covered, like the body of the vessel, with a deck, the whole form-ing one continued line, but is divided by a bulkhead, which terminateswhat may be considered the forecastle. This peculiarity of the form renderingthe grab extremely liable to pitch with considerable violence in a head sea, theprow deck is not defended, as that in the midship and aftermost part of thevessel is, by a bulwark, or breast-work, so that the water of the waves, in whichit is frequently buried if there is an heavy swell, may run ofF as expeditiouslyas possible, meeting with no interruption.

The force of these singular vessels, which bear very strong resemblance tothe large or first rate galleys used by the Venetians, more than two cen-turies since, consists, to speak generally, of sixteen or eighteen, cannon. Two ofthese, used as chace guns, which are always of superior calibre to thofe mount-ed on the broadside, point forward, and fire o\er the prow, being workedthrough two port-holes, cut through the bulkhead of the forecastle. Theleguns are in general twelve, but are never less than nine pounders ; thofe mount-ed cn the broadside are, according to the dimensions of the grab, either fix ornine pounders. The success which had attended the piratical and othermeasures of those states adopting the use of the vessels just described, causedthe addition and introduction of a diminutive class of vessels, in the prin-ciple of construction very much resembling the former, which are calledgallivats. Though of far inferior force to them, they have, nevertheless,proved not less destructive to the commercial interest of that quarter of theworld than their more formidable colleagues. They are frequently, particularlyin the immediate hour of attack, worked with oars as the galleys are, though,like them, they have the benefit of sails whenever the use of them appears ad-vantageous. The largest of these naval hoi nets are about one hundred and fiftytons burthen, but there are very few of that tonnage ; the general extent beingseventy, and they but seldom exceed that size ; they are furnished with twomasts, like a ketch, the aftermost, or mizen, being very slight. The main mast isfurnished with one sail only, which is extremely large, and of a triangular shape;since the peak of it, when hoisted, rises much higher than the mast itself. Thegallivats are, in general, furnished with a slight deck, which, for the purpose ofrendering the vessel as light as possible, is most commonly formed of split bam-boos, The gallivats of this description are only furnished with patararoes, or

swivels,