12 



RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM. 



witli the result that the line of keel makes a somewhat graceful 

 angle with the former, but an almost abrupt ending with the 

 latter. It is on the jirojecting j)latform that the hunter stands 



Fig. 10. 



when on the look-out for turtle, etc. It was ascertained that the 

 butt end of the tree-trunk ultimately forms the hows, which 

 accordingly ride wider and higher when floated. The greatest 

 breadth in tlie bilge is not very markedly larger than the .space 

 between the gunwale ; the sides tumble in but slightly. Two 

 booms are fixed cross-wise over the body (fig, 10), at about between 

 the middle and outer thirds (the anterior tliird being the greater), 

 by means of a rope passed through a hole drilled in the gun- 

 wale, and their ends are fastened by pegs to the float lying at 

 each side; each set of two peg.", Iviug on a forward slope, is 

 wedged below into a single mortice in the float, while above, its 

 separated components are tied to the front of tlie boom. When 

 a central staging is required, this is built up of two sticks tied 

 parallel with the sides of the vessels, on to both booms, and 

 smaller pieces in close apposition laid upon them transversely. 

 The occupants, other than the one standing on the projection at 

 the bows, sit either on the booms, on pieces of wood laid across 

 the gunwale, or the stern ledge ; there is of course room for 

 them to sit only one behind the other, and if there is but one 

 man steering he will have his place at the stern. The timber 

 used for the float is not usually the same as that em|iloyed for 

 the Ijody, hut of a more buoyant variety. 



13. From Night Island down to Claremont Point, the afterboom 

 is close to the stern (iig. 11), both booms being made to pierce the 

 gunwale over which they are lashed to pegs driven through the 

 sides l)elow. Furthermore, the extremities of the booms are 

 lashed on to the float direct, without any intervening pegs, an 

 arrangement wliereliy the whole centre of gravity of the vessel 

 is raised, tlie consequenct- being I hat the occupants have to squat 

 in the bottom of the canoe (PI. vi., Hg. 1). Theie may be a small 

 peg forward, to attach the line to. The paddle, worked in all 



