CATALOGUE OF THE WATEECRAFT COLLECTION. 



269 



Dimensions of hoat. — Length, 28 feet; beam, 10 feet; depth, 5 

 feet; length of bottom, 9 feet; width, 5 feet 6 inches; steering oar, 

 16 feet one-half inch; other oars vary in length from 14 feet 6 inches 

 to 15 feet 3 inches. Scale of model, 1 inch equals 1 foot. 



" The Madras masula mancha is used all along the eastern coast 

 of the peninsula. It is formed with a flat bottom, for the purpose 

 of taking the beach in the surf, when European boats can not ap- 

 proach it. These boats are beached in the third surf, and taken most 



FIG. 89. LACCADIVE ISLANDS CANOE. 



" The planks * * 

 ing the seams over a 

 and prevents leakage. 



completely out of the water, on the immediate receding of the swell, 

 by the natives. 



* are sewed together with coir yarns, cross- 

 wadding of coir, which presses on the joints 



By this peculiar means of security the vessel 

 is rendered pliable and yields to the shock which she receives on 

 taking the ground, whilst boats with framed timbers and planks, 

 nailed or treenailed fastened, would be broken to pieces from the 

 heavy surf that at times runs as high as from ^x to ten feet. 



" The masula boats receive their cargoes and passengers from the 

 ships outside the surf and land them in perfect safety, provided the 



