CHINA. 1751; 257 



divifions, and are fo convenient that you are 

 fecure from rain and fun mine under the reed- 

 inats, which are fpread like an awning over 

 the boat, and are fupported With bambtx} 

 flicks. Such boats as thefe would be very 

 ufeful in many places of our Malar Lake. 

 They are rowed in a peculiar way, by one or 

 more perfons : the oars are neater than could 

 be expected from people who have no theory 

 hi their mechanicks : in the middle it is com- 

 pofed of two pieces, but fomewhat obliquely, 

 and turns en a fwivel, fo that the oar turns 

 both on the fwivel and in the water; and the 

 rower need only direct it. The part of the 

 oar which goes in the water is very broad, 

 iuch as is neceifary to fiat veflels, which have 

 no keel to cut the water, but miift only float 

 on it. On the forger fampanes, befides this, is 

 a ftiff oar fixed to the bending of the Jampane, 

 with which they may be eafily turned, even 

 when they are deep laden. Their anchors 

 (as is well known) are made of wood, fome- 

 times plated with iron on the ends ; and have 

 frequently only one arm. Inftead of the (tern, 

 they faften a piece of wood crofs-ways to the 

 arm, which anfwers the fame purpofe, as the 

 angle grows fharper by the conjunction. The 

 fails confift of mats, which are expanded by 

 Vol. IL S poles, 



