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Vol. III.
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326
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326

HISTORY OF MARINE ARCHITECTURE.

“ Those which are shorter than five-and-twenty feet, seldom or never carrysail; and though the stern rises about four or five feet, they have a flat head, anda board that projects forward about four feet.

“ The pahie is also of different sizes, from thirty to sixty feet long ; but, like theivahah, is very narrow. One that was measured was fifty-one feet long, and onlyone foot and an half wide at the top; in the widest part it was about three feet,and this is the general proportion. It does not, however, widen by a gradualswell ; but the sides being straight and parallel for a little way below the gun-wale, it swells abruptly, and draws to a ridge at the bottom ; so that a trans-verse section of it has somewhat the appearance of the mark upon cards, calleda spade, the whole being much wider in proportion to its length. These, likethe largest ivahahs, are used for fighting, but principally for long voyages.The fighting pahie, which is the largest, is fitted with the stage or platform,which is proportionably larger than those of the ivahah, as their form enablesthem to sustain a much greater weight. Those that are used for sailing aredouble, and the middle size are said to be the best sea-boats. They are some-times out a month together, going' from island to island ; and sometimes, asis credibly reported, they are not unfrequently a fortnight or twenty daysat sea, and could keep it longer, if they had more stowage for provisions,and conveniences to hold fresh water.

“ When any of these boats carry sail single, they make use of a log of wood,which is f.stened to the end of two poles that lie across the vessel, and projectfrom six to ten feet, according to the size of the vessel, beyond its side ;somewhat like what is used by the flying proa of the Ladrcne Islands, andcalled, in the account of Lord Anson’s Voyage, an outrigger ; to this outriggerthe shrouds are fastened, and it is essentially necessary in trimming the bo^tand conveniences to when it blows fresh.

“ Some of them have one mast, and others two ; they are made of a singlestick ; and when the length of the canoe is thirty feet, that cf the mast issomewhat less than five-and-twenty ; it is fixed to a frame that is above the canoe,and receives a sail of matting about one-third longer than itself; the sail is pointedat the top, square at the bottom, and curved at the side, somewhat resemblingwhat is called a shoulder-of-mutton sail, and used for boats belonging to men ofwar ; it is placed in a frame of wood which surrounds it on every side, and hasno contrivance either for reefing or furling, so that if either should become ne-cessary, it must be cut away, which, however, in these equal climates, can

seldom