HISTORY OF MARINE ARCHITECTURE.

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some amends for the delinquency of their predecessors, and enabled the distantenquirer to comprehend, without difficulty, the character, nature, and peculiarproperties of the canoe in question.

The name of flying proa has been particularly given to it on account of the ex-traordinary, and, in some measure, incredible velocity with which it is said, byvarious observers, on the positive evidence of their own sight, to pass through thewater. “ The Spaniards,” states the ingenious author of Mr. Anson’s Voyage,“ assert such things as must appear altogether incredible to one who has neverseen these vessels move, nor are they the only people who recount such extraor-dinary tales of their celerity, for those who shall have the curiosity to enquire atPortsmouth dock about an experiment tried there several years since with a veryimperfect proa, built at that place, will meet with accounts no less wonderfulthan those which have been reported by the Spaniards. Nevertheless,” continuesthe author, “ by some rude estimations made by us, of the velocity with whichthey crossed the horison at a distance, while we lay at Tinian, I cannot help be-lieving, that with a brisk trade wind, they will run nearly twenty miles in thehour, which, though greatly short of what the Spaniards report, is certainly adegree of velocity which, without the most positive evidence, might be consideredincredible.”

The construction of a proa is directly and diametrically opposite, to everyprinciple of marine architecture, which, in other quarters of the globe, had beenbefore embraced by the most polished and scientific nations. It is well known tobe a prevalent custom, that the head and stern of a vessel should bear no resem-blance to each other, but that the two sides should be exactly alike. In the proa,however, no difference is discernible between the head and stern ; but the for-mation of the sides is as dissimilar as rt is possible to conceive they could be. Thecause of this very extraordinary formation, is easily to be discovered. The proanever puts about, but is intended, and actually sails with either end foremost, ac-cording to the will and pleasure of the navigators; one and the same side beingconstantly exposed to the wind. This is according to the custom of other countriesbuilt rounding, and not very materially varying from the form given by Europeansthemselves. The lee-side, however, is totally flat, and owing to the extreme length ofthe vessel, with its want of breadth, would immediately overset, but for a contri-vance and addition as extraordinary and curious, as it is salutary and useful, whichprevent an accident of this disastrous and fatal kind. A frame, or outrigger, is fixedon the rounding, or weather-side, extending some distance into the water; and at its

extremity