CATALOGUE OF THE WATEHCEAFT COLLECTION. 283 



with the gunwales ; an arched cover or awning of basket work is at 

 the stern; a net is arranged on two poles diagonally above the star- 

 board side. 



DimeTisions of boat. — Length, 19 feet 7^ inches; width, 2 feet 3 

 inches; depth, inside, 15 inches; length of awning, 3 feet 8 inches; 

 length of net, 10 feet 4^ inches; height, 3 feet 6 inches. Scale of 

 model, 1 inch equals 1 foot. 



When fishing, boats of this kind are fitted on one side with a 

 broad platform painted white and a net elevated diagonally above 

 the opposite gunwale. The fishing is conducted at night. 

 Gift of Chinese Centennial Commission. 



Cat. No. 160,264 tl.S.N.M. 



Model of Chinese catamaran. 



Catamarans of this type are used at Takow, Formosa, China. 

 The extreme buoyancy of the bamboo and the strength and rigidity 

 of the structure, due to the manner in which the logs are bound 

 together, make this form of catamaran perhaps the best of any for 

 use on a bar where there is a heavy surf. 



Constructed of 13 bamboo logs placed side by side and securely 

 fastened together by seizings or lashings of rattan which firmly bind 

 , seven crosspoles on top ; also by lacings of rattan woven out and in 

 between the logs on the forward part of the raft. The smaller ends 

 of the bamboo logs are put at the bow and have a strong upward 

 curve to enable the raft to more easily ride a sea. Along each side 

 above the crosspieces, and securely bound there, is a small bamboo, 

 forming a sort of gunwale ; upon this are fastened two rowlocks, each 

 with a single long thole, while the thole of another rowlock (which 

 is secured to the after end of one of the logs) is seized to its after end. 



A heavy mast step is lashed to two crosspieces a little forward of 

 amidships ; in this the mast is stepped. A single lorcha sail of mat- 

 ting is carried. The raft is steered with an oar. 



Dimensions of catamaran. — ^Length, 28 feet 4 inches; width, at 

 bow, 7 feet 1 inch; amidships, 9 feet 9 inches; at stem, 10 feet 7^ 

 inches ; mast, above step, 24 feet 4^ inches; sail, 15 feet 1| inches high 

 by 12 feet 11 inches wide. Scale of model, li inches equal 1 foot. 



The bamboo catamarans used at Takow are of various sizes, but 

 mostly from 30 to 35 feet long and 7 to 10 feet wide ; they are made 

 of from 12 to 14 bamboos. They are the chief means of communica- 

 tion with vessels in the roadstead ; no foreign-fashioned boat, when 

 a " bar " is on, could live through the surf. 



They are made of large, partially burnt bamboos of equal size. 

 Each catamaran has three leeboards, which are of great importance, 

 since without them it would be unable to make way against the high 



