252 



BULLETIN 127, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



main deck of bamboo laths attached together by coir twine; open 

 rail forward of poop for oars to work through ; sheer strakes extend 

 forward of bow some distance ; two square sails set on slim bamboo 

 masts, which step in stanchions extending above deck; the masts 

 are fitted to lower suddenly ; armed with four swivels, two mounted 

 on beam extending from rail to rail just forward of the foremast and 

 two on beam extending across the poop ; rows with 24 oars. 



FIG. SI. MALAY PIRATE VESSEL. 



Dimensions of vessel. — Length over all (including forward ex- 

 tension or platform), 51 feet 4 inches; between perpendiculars (or 

 hull proper), 38 feet 4 inches; beam, 8 feet 8 inches; depth, 3 feet 

 4 inches; foremast, above deck, 41 feet; foresail, 14 feet 4 inches 

 high by 13 feet 4 inches wide; mainmast, above deck, 41 feet 4 

 inches; mainsail, 13 feet 8 inches high by 16 feet 4 inches wide. 

 Scale of model, three-fourths inch equals 1 foot. 



A vessel of these dimensions would be between 11 and 12 tons 

 burden — the size most commonly used by the Malays. The model 

 is painted in imitation of a prahu; bottom, black to bends; top 

 striped with yellow, red, and dark green, with a sort of fleur-de-lis 

 in white on the green. 



