CATAI^OGUE OF THE WATERCEAFT COLLECTION. 273 



of these floats are used by a fisherman. '\A^^,en going on a fishing 

 trip the fisherman enters the water, arranges one of these floats on 

 each side, and then pushes out into midstream. Wlien a fish is 

 caught it is secured by a string that hangs from his waist. After 

 drifting to the end of his reach he lands, shoulders his floats, his 

 net, and his catch, and tramps back to sell his fish, unless he dis- 

 poses of them to a " pally-chatty " — a boat in which natives go out 

 to fish or to purchase the catch of others. This is among the most 

 primitive devices for floatation known in the world. 



A large bundle of stems of shola, a light pith-like plant, is se- 

 curely bound together with twine, and to this is attached by a string 

 a small bundle of the same material. The purpose of this arrange- 



FIG. 90. EAST INDIAN CORACLK OR " PARACHAL." 



ment is that, when the connecting string is passed beneath the arm 

 of a fisherman and the small bundle of shola is placed in front of the 

 armpit, the larger bundle is held on the shoulder of the swimmer; 

 thus with one of these on each side he is supported without any per- 

 sonal exertion. 



Dimensions of float. — Large bundle, 20 inches long, 6 inches diam- 

 eter ; small bundle, 7^ inches long, 3 inches diameter. 

 Gift of Surg. Gen. Francis Day. Cat. No. 160,263 U.S.N.M. 



Model of Siamese barge. 



This type of barge was used by the King of Siam in state proces- 

 sions or for other purposes. It is a long, narrow, very shallow, open, 

 carvel-built, keelless boat, with narrow flat bottom; strongly cam- 

 bered at ends, with round flaring sides; long, sharp, overhanging 

 bow, projecting at bottom, with dragons carved on its sides, and 

 carved, pointed end rising above, with strong af terrake ; long, sharp, 

 overhanging stern, rising very high and terminating in a profusely 

 carved, pointed end, representative of a dragon's tail. The elaborate 



