HISTORY OF MARINE ARCHITECTURE.

o-7

seldom happen. To the top of the mast are fastened ornaments cf feathers,

which are placed inclining obliquely forwards, the shape and position of which

will be conceived at once from the figure in the plate.

“ The oars or paddles that are used with these boats, have a long handle and aflat blade not unlike a baker’s peel. Or' these, every person in the boat has one,

except those that sit under the awning, and they push her forward with them at

a good rate. These boats, however, admit so much water at the seams, that

one person at least is continually employed in throwing it out. The only thing

in which they excel, is landing and putting off from the shore in a surf; by

their great length, and high sterns, they could land every day, when the English

boats could scarcely land at all: they have also the same advantages in putting offby the height of the head.

“ The ivahahs are the only boats that are used by the inhabitantsof Otaheite ; butpahies are frequently used in other islands. The exact dimensions of one ofthese, given from a careful admeasurement, will so very materially contribute tothe elucidation of the description subsequently given, as to the manner andparticular form in which this class of canoes is built, that they might perhapsenable an European draughtsman, to consruct one so nearly resembling them asto create some difficulty, in pointing out the true from that which was fictitious:

Feet. Inches.

Extreme length from stem to stern, not reckoning the bending up

of either -

Breadth in the clear of the top forward

Breadth in the mid-ships

Breadth aft

In the bilge forward

In the mid-ships

o

2

i

i

1

2

6

2

8

2 - II

Aft

2 - 9

Depth in the mid-ships

Height from the ground on which she stood

Height of the head from the ground without including that of the figure 4-4

Height of the figure

Height of the stern from the ground

Height of the figure

o - 11

2-0

Z z 2

To