PREHISTORIC NAVAL ARCHITECTURE. 593 



111 addition to the oars, mast and sails were used in the propulsion of 

 tlie ship. 



The mast was set in an opening- made in a large block fixed above 

 the middle part of the vessel, the aperture extending considerably 

 sternward, so as to facilitate its raising and lowering. 



The mast was of moderate height and was lowered upon all occasions, 

 such as headwinds, when preiiaring tor batth', or in making harbor, 

 rendering the sail superfluous.' 



The mast was steadied by ropes passing around the top and lashed 

 to the forepost and by a few shrouds on each side. The hoisting roi)e 

 l)assed thivmgh a hole below the i)lace where the shrouds met. A 

 wooden parral was used to hold the yard or prevent its being swung 

 outward, while a brace rope was placed at each end of the yard and 

 fastened behind the mast or held by the helnisnian.^ 



The sails were square, but their form rendered tacking difficult, and 

 the sailors often preferred Avaiting for a favorable wind. This is men- 

 tioned in the Sagas, especially on occasions where thereby an oppor- 

 tunity was offered to show to advantage an exceptionally handsome 

 sail. It is said of Harald Sigurdson that, wishing to visit Constanti- 

 nople on his return from Jerusalem, he waited with his fleet one month 

 and a half for a side wind to enable him to display the sails covered with 

 velvet.^ 



They were sewed together with thread and strengthened at their 

 edges by a leech, to which hooks were attached and rings so placed as 

 to receive the sheets when the vessel was to shorten sail.'' They also 

 had small ropes or reefing points to be used in reefing or shortenin 

 tlie sails. 



The material used for sails was frieze, but ships best equipped for 

 active service employed canvas. For show, beautiful sails were highly 

 prized and often presented to chieftains;^ designs were painted or em- 

 broidered up<m them." The dragon "MariasuSen," built by King 

 Haakon in 11*57, had sails embroidered with historic designs.' They 

 were often lined with velvet" and again double velvet, beautifully 

 woven with red, purple, and gold.'' White sails are mentioned, strij)ed 

 with blue and red.'" 



Ornamentations seem to have played a very important part in ships 

 and carvings appear upon many trifling objects. The prow was gen- 



■ IConungssognr, pp. 165, 230 (cit. by Nicolayseii) ; Flateyarbok, iii, 41. 

 2 Laxclsela, i, c. xviii. 

 ^Sigurd .Torsalafari Saga, c. ii. 

 * Ancieut Gnla law. 



■^ Harakl Haidradi; Forumana Sogur, vi, c. 100. 



'''A. SchuU:: Das liofisrhe Lpl)en zuv Zcit der Minnesinger, ii, 290 (cit. by Nicolay- 

 sen). 



" Flateyarbok, iii, pp. I'.Hi, 107. 

 *^ Signrd Jorsalafari Saga, e, ii. 

 ■' Flateyarbok, III. 

 )«St. Olal' Saga, clxviii. 



SM 91, PT 2 38 



