44 Great Britain Division IX. Life-boat Shed. 



The original is 77 ft. 11 in. in length, as she now stands ; a few pieces of the woodwork, want- 

 ing in the original, have been supplied after a careful study. These restored parts are distin- 

 guished by a different colour. The ship is entirely of oak, clinker-built, the boards connected 

 with iron nails, and the seams caulked with oakum, made of cows' hair spun into three-stranded 

 cord. The planking is about one inch thick. Both oars and canvas were used to propel her. 

 Of the former there were sixteen on either side, so that thirty-two men would thus be required 

 to serve the oars only ; and doubtless the full complement would not be less than forty hands. 

 There has been no true deck, only loose boards cut into the frames. The tent cloth is made 

 of a fine woollen texture, whilst the cords for fastening are of hemp. The pieces of ships' rope, 

 of which a good many were found, are of bast. The rudder is hung by a rope a little forward of 

 the sternpost on the right-hand side, as usual in all vessels of the Viking Period, and long 

 after, down indeed to the 14th century, hence " starboard " or steering board, the right-hand 

 side of a ship. The method of fastening and guiding this ancient style of side-rudder was not 

 satisfactorily known previous to the discovery of this Gokstad vessel. In that portion of the 

 ship first opened was found a piece of timber, evidently the anchor-stock, with traces of 

 iron. Also two or three small boats neatly built of oak. Underneath this were the oars, 

 some 20 feet in length, exceedingly interesting through their workmanship. The following 

 other articles were found : Trace of a landing stage, fragments of sleeping berth, portion of 

 wooden chair and a great variety of kitchen utensils, including a massive copper kettle, 

 wooden plates and drinking-cups, &c. The grave or burial chamber was built just behind 

 the mast, and was 15 feet square. In this room, which has a gable roof, the remains of the 

 dead were deposited unburnt, and no doubt on a bed, portions of which were found. Robbers 

 had, however, been there, who had dug into the mound, accounting for the fact that the bones 

 had disappeared. No implements of war were found, but a series of miscellaneous articles, 

 including iron fish-hooks and a turned draughtsman of horn in the grave chamber, as well 

 as wearing apparel of gold brocade. The barrow or mound from which it was excavated 

 was ^rery large and of the usual circular form. The ship was interred in the middle, on 

 her keel, decorated with shields hung close together along the rail on both sides of the 

 vessel. A few of these shields have been restored and placed in position. BRYCE-WRIGHT. 

 (2) Model of a Chinese Junk. Length, 3 feet 3 inches. (3) Model of Japanese Boat, in 

 ivory, with boatmen and other figures, upon stand of black lacquer, with leaves and conven- 

 tional waves in gold. The figures are remarkable for their expressions and attitudes. Height, 

 4 inches ; length, 1 foot 10 inches. (4) Model of a Japanese Boat, in bronze. (5) Model of 

 Japanese Pleasure Boat, in ivory, with four beautifully executed figures. Length, 12 inches. 

 (6) Model of Japanese Pleasure Boat, the centre covered with a kind of roof. Within are four 

 figures of ladies and gentlemen, with steersman, all exceptionally well modelled and height- 

 ened with colour. The details are so far carried out as to include even the three pairs of 

 sandals of the men left outside the covered part on the deck of the boat. Ivory. Length, 

 14 inches ; width, 4 \ inches. (7) Model of Chinese River Pleasure Boat, in ivory. (8) Model 

 of an Outrigger Canoe from Tahiti, carved in wood. (9) Canoe, made from the hollo wed-out 

 trunk of a tree, from Maitea, South Sea Islands. Length 8 feet. (10) Model of a Canoe, made 

 of bark. Fuegian. (11) Model of an Outrigger Canoe, from the South Sea Islands. (12) 

 Model of a Raft with Lateen Sail, from Island of Formosa. (13) Model of Chinese War Junk. 

 Length 3 feet 4 inches. (14) Paddle Steamboat. Earthenware, with a dark-brown glaze, 

 from Chanaklesi, Dardanelles. (15) Model of an Outrigged Surf Boat, Ceylon. (16) Chinese 

 Boat, model in wood, painted. Length, 2 feet 9 inches. (17) A Figure of Swan, in silver, 

 From its back spring a mast and sail, and its outstretched wings are freighted with boxes, 

 chests and fans, and a variety of goods. The mast is in imitation of bamboo, the sail divided 

 longitudinally, the divisions diapered in patterns, some being coloured, others gilt. In the 

 centre of the sail is let in a detached crystal ball within a medallion of chased scroll-work. 

 Behind are a rudder and tiller, and the bird floats on a conventional sea. Japanese. 16 inches. 

 (18) Two Tortoise-shell Boats. (19) Boat, folding, from " Black Curries." (20) Model of a 

 Fishing Canoe, with paddles and fishing spear. Fuegian. (21) Model of Canoe. Fuegian. 

 (22) Model of Double Canoe, with triangular sails, the position of the canoes being reversed 

 end to end. South Sea. 



391. TRINITY HOUSE, ELDER BRETHREN OP, Tower Hill, 

 London. Models of Lighthouses. 



ANDEK80N, ABbUlT, AND ANDERSON 



ABB THE MANUTACTTTBEBS OF THE 



ARMY REOTJL ATIO1V CLOAK, 



37, Queen Victoria St., London, E,C. Works : Limehouse, E. 



HORSE GUARDS, 10th March, 1871.--GENTLI1MKK, The Waterproof Coat made by you has been 

 approved of as a pattern for Coats to be worn in wet weather by all Officers. The Material seems 

 excellent, and Is exactly what was recommended by the Committee. Your pattern has been now 

 sealed and deposited at the Horse Guards.! am, Gentlemen, yours obediently, 



ARTHUR HERBERT, A.A.G., Col. 



N.B. A General Order on the subject will be Issued In next month'i orders. 



