624 



REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1891. 



side bored through, whicli 8ervcs partly as a I'euder to keep the rudder 

 from the plaukiug aud also afforded jjassage for the rudder rope. 



The questiou of the position of rowers' benches is rather puzzHng-, as 

 neither have the beiu'hes been found nor do the knees or beams give 

 an indication of the metliod of the fixing of seats for the rowers. It is 

 true the ancient writings do not state that the rowing was performed 



144. Vi<i. 145- 



FASTKNINIi (II'- lU'IlDElt TO Sllll-'s SiDK. 

 I Frcm N, NjchnlM yscn, •■ I.iiiie>kili.'t im (ioUstail. ") 



ill a sittiug position, yet the word .sr.v.s (seat), as appbed to the number of 

 oars by wliich the vessel was classified, gives a siguificaut indication 

 to that eflect. 



Of the gunwale the greater part was (lecayed, yet sufiicieutreiiiained 

 to indicate between the short timbers a, continuous skirting with rec- 

 tanguhir openings wiiich, it is su])posed, were used fortius tying of the 

 cords by whicli tlie shii)'s tent was stretched, under which most of the 

 hands c<uild find shelter against the weather. 



In the sliip discovered at Gokstad were tbund the lour su]»ports of 

 such a tent, together with frngnu'iits of tlie cloth and the cords. The 

 supijorts are heavy bo;irds, 11 feet S iiiclie.s in length, finely carved at 

 the upper extremity to represent the head of some animal, and in part 

 painted (Fig. 140). Tliey had been phiced oblicpiely, so as to form two 

 crutches, one at each end of the tent, with the carved heads i^rojecting, 

 and connected together by the pole, or rather transverse bar of the 

 tent, which thus formed a gable-ended roof, extending fore and aft 

 from the pole to the rail of the ship. The tent cloth is made ai a rather 

 fine woolen texture, Avhite, with broad \v<l stripes sewed oa; th*> cords, 



