PREHISTORIC NAVAL ARCHITECTURE. 



623 



the tliiid and fourlli tVaines fore ami aft; tlioy may have been inlcmdcd 

 as su])iM>rts for the spars. 



In addition to mast and sail tbe ship earried thirty-two oars, sixteeu 

 on each side, which were plied through circular portholes (Fig. 141) 

 cut in the third strake from the top and placed midway between each 

 pair of knees. The size of the oars, some of which were found to havx 

 carved ornamentations, diminished from amidship toward each end, and 



Fig. 141. 

 Oak Posts of Gokstad Ship. 



lauu's lUustrirte Munatshefte, Octiilier, 1882. ) 



Fiii. 1 12. 



lUlUDEH OK GoKhlAl) SlIIP. 



(KriiuiN. Nichdlaysen, " Langskibi't Ir 

 Gokstail.") 



corresponding decrease is noticeable in the portiioles. Back of each 

 hole and a little above its horizontal diameter a slit is cut, through 

 which the oars were shipped, and all being in the same direction all the 

 blades would touch the water at a uniform angle. 



Intlux of Avater is prevented by a very ingenious api)lication in the 

 form of a shutter having two projections, one of which was fastened 

 to the inside of the ship with a spike, around which they would move 

 and o])en with a forward movement of the oar; when closed the circu- 

 lar portion would cover the port, while the lower i)rojection, resting 

 against a pin, Avould perform a like service to the slit. 



The rudder (Fig. IIU) consisted of a ])l;nd^ in the shape of a broad 

 oar, the lower portion of Avhich, in the middle, was provided with a 



Fig. 143. 

 TiLLEU OF Gokstad Ship. 



(From N. Nttiuilaysi-n, "Laneskibel ln< GoksUul'") 



round hoh' through which it was held to the side of the vessel by 

 means of a roj)e. Its short neck was caught by a grummet; the tiller 

 (Fig. 143) was fitted into a square aperture in the opxDosite direction of 

 the blade. 



The rudder was mounted with iron and Drovided with a cramp toward 

 the heel. 



To strengthen the upper part of the ship's side a wooden j^illow, or 

 block (Fig. 144, 145), has been laid outward and through this the grum- 

 met passed. Further down a block of conical form is nailed to the ship's 



