42 WATKR-THAXSPOKT. 



creaks and shakes through all its members, and the last sections 

 spring up and down according to the inequalities in the bed of 

 the stream. The men with the breaks have hard work to do, for 

 when the break is withdrawn l)y removing the withes whit-h bind 

 it to the raft, it has to be replaced in time for the next dangerous 

 passage. Meanwhile, the raft floats so rapidly down-stream that 

 a man running full speed along the bank can hardly keep up 

 ■with it. 



The first flooding of the stream may take the raft down from 

 five to ten miles ; then the water runs dry, and the raft lies on 

 the bed of the stream until suflicient water is collected for a 

 second flooding, when the work recommences. Once the raft 

 has reached the broad and deep water below, there is no more 

 difficulty about conducting it to the junction with a large river. 



Only rudders are used in guiding rafts on large rivers. On the 

 Ivhine, diff'erent kinds of rudders are used ; either spruce boards 

 or long logs cut into shape of a board at one end. The larger 

 kinds of rudders are so heavy that they are moved by a number 

 of men, who push the rudders with their shoulders and take 

 several strides in turning them. The men need not leave their 

 places to move the smaller rudders. The rafts arc pulled ashore 

 by means of anchors fixed to the shore, and attached by ropes to 

 the raft. 



On the larger German rivers, both logs and sawn timber arc 

 rafted, and the rafts are further laden with firewood, oak planks 

 and scantlings, laths, staves, vine-props, poles, and many other 

 wares termed raft-ballast {Ohlasi). 



[On the Brulunaputra and Ganges rivers, heavy k),L;-.s of sal {Shorea 

 rohitsta) and other wood which will not float in water are attached by 

 ropes to long poles fastened across large buoyant boats, and are thus 

 floated down-stream. — Tk.] 



