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HISTORY OF MARINE ARCHITECTURE.

extremity is fastened a log of wood, fashioned, in some degree, into the formof a boat. The weight of the frame balances the proa, prevents its falling overto leeward under a pressure of sail, and preserves it from all risk of oversetting,which, without such addition, would inevitably happen, on account of its verycontracted breadth.

'I he hull of the proa itself, properly so called, is formed of two pieces of wood,joined edgew ays, and sewed together, according to the custom of the country;no iron whatever being used in the construction. The bottom, that is to say, thepart of it next the keel, to use the term adopted in European vessels, is about twoinches in thickness, and gradually diminishes as it approaches the gunwale,w here it becomes reduced one-half, or is, perhaps, even less than an inch thick-ness. The singularity and extraordinary properties of this vessel, cannot fail torender its representation more than commonly interesting; and the dimensions,as well as form, of each part, will be tar more accurately understood by inspection,than by the most laboured description, the former of which becomes additionallycurious, as being taken from an actual measurement of the different parts. Figurethe first shews a sheer draught of the proa, with her sail set, as seen from the lee-ward ; figure 2, shews the projection or form of the hull, viewed from the head,with the outrigger to windward ; fig. 3, is the horizontal plan of the vessel; A Brepresenting the lee side ; C D the w'indward, or weather side; E F G II the out-rigger, or balancing frame; I K the boat, or block of wood attached to it;L M two braces, springing from the head and stern, in order to steady andstrengthen the outrigger; NO is a thin plank, fixed 'to windward, in order toprevent the proa trom shipping water; it serves also as a seat for the person who isconstantly employed in bailing the vessel, in order to keep it clear from the waterwhich it is in the habit of constantly shipping. This contrivance serves likewise,occasionally, to carry such, species, and small quantity of merchandize, or commo-dities as the insignificance of the vessel will permit. P is the centre part of the frame,er outrigger, in which the mast is fixed. The latter is sustained and strengthened,as seen in fig. 2, by tlse shore C I) and the shroud, as well as by the shroud EF,together with two stays, one of which is visible, fig. 1, marked C D ; the other is hidby the intervention-of the sail. The sail, whose form is accurately seen, fig 1,is made of matting. I lie mast, yard, boom, and outrigger, all of bamboo.

The heel of the yard is always laid on one of the sockets marked Z and R,Fig. 3, according to the tack on which the proa stands, and when the navigatorswish to alter it, it is effected in the following simple and artless manner. They

bear