90 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1884. 



bows of tbe ancient triremes, and which on the latter was used for offen- 

 sive purposes (like the projecting rams on modern men-of-war), for crush- 

 ing the sides of their antagonists. This boat is propelled wholly with 

 oars, having eight rowers on a side. 



(9) A collection of seven fine models of Chinese cargo boats and fish- 

 ing craft has been obtained from the Museum of Fish Culture at South 

 Kensington, Loudon. These models are a valuable acquisition to the 

 Museum, and combined with others previously acquired make up an 

 interesting collection representing the craft of the Celestial Empire. It 

 is possible in this place to make special mention of onlj^ two of the 

 models as being of ijeculiar interest. One of these, a so-called "out- 

 rigged " fishing junk, from South Formosa, is a remarkably clumsy 

 craft, even for a Chinese junk, and judging by descriptions that have 

 been given, it is probably a fact that this style of vessel has not changed 

 much in its form or in the method of its construction since the days of 

 Marco Polo. The other is a bamboo raft, or catamaran, a style of boat 

 employed in China as elsewhere (in South America and India) not only 

 for fishing purposes, but to go on and off the coast when the surf is so 

 heavy as to preclude the possibility of using the ordinary' form of boat. 



(10) A full sized dugout canoe, such as is used on the Gold Coast of 

 Africa, has been presented to the Museum by Mr. Maloney, governor 

 of the Gold Coast colonj-. As being the oul^ full-sized representative 

 we have of water craft used by the natives of Africa, this canoe is of 

 especial interest and value to the collection. It also has an additional 

 importance from being another interesting acces'Siou to the collection 

 of primitive boats used by man, particularly of those which come under 

 the head of dugout canoes. 



(11) An Irish " curragh," exhibited at the London Fisheries Exhibi- 

 tion, has been presented by the Marquis of Hamilton. This boat, made 

 of tarred canvas stretched over a light fra;ue-work of willow withes, is 

 probably tlie most primitive form of water craft used by civilized man, 

 and it constitutes an interesting "connecting link," if we may so call it, 

 between the boats of a remote age and the higher types of vessels in 

 use at the i^resent day. Remarkable as it may seem, craft of this kind 

 are still in common use for fishing purposes on the west coast of Ire- 

 land, and are perhaps as fine an illustration of the adai^tation of means 

 to ends as can be found even among the varying forms of boats used 

 by savage tribes ; for here the poor fisherman, not able to afford the 

 expense of building a more durable craft, with the limited means at his 

 command, makes himself such an one as may answer his purpose. 

 Though extremely frail in appearance, these craft, from their lightness, 

 are very buoyant, and it is said of them that they will rise like. a feather 

 upon waves which would prove troublesome, if not dangerous, to the 

 ordinary fishing boat. 



(12) Two full-sized British " corracles," one from the river Boyne in 

 Ireland, and the other from the river Dee in Scotland, which have been 



