1845.] AT JAPAN. 63 



from anything which I have seen ; their extreme width 

 appears to be about one-third from aft, tapering directly, 

 and by a very sharp wedge-shaped rising bow, the after- 

 third rounded off not ungracefully, although fully, to the 

 stern. In conformity with this build, in vessels not more 

 than 300 tons, the mast, which is of large dimensions 

 (twenty-eight to thirty inches diameter), is stepped abaft 

 the centre of the vessel, having a slight rake aft, and de- 

 pending almost for its entire security, on a powerful stay, 

 apparently adapted for a triangular sail, but none has 

 ever been seen upon it. The only sail observed, was 

 a huge square one, composed of narrow widths, of a 

 very flimsy canvas, not sewed together, as in our sails, 

 but laced, so as to be reduced at pleasure, by taking 

 off cloths instead of reefing. This I noticed in the smaller 

 boats off Nangasaki, where the sail appeared to traverse 

 by rings on the yard, and to be divisible into four parts, 

 In the vessels now under inspection, they were in not 

 less than eighty. As the outer cloths were securely 

 attached to their bolt-ropes I can only surmise, that in 

 reefing by this vertical method, the middle cloths are 

 removed. 



The rudder is similar to that in use amongst the 

 Chinese, but the tiller is about one-third the length of 

 the vessel, and the rudder being triced up in port, makes 

 this appear as an additional spar. The exterior of these 

 vessels was very neatly finished, and payed with a coat 

 of clear varnish ; most of her metal fittings appeared to be 

 of copper ; and abaft, where our quarter badges would be 

 placed, they were ornamented by a light lattice work, 

 obliquely forward, or diamond fashion. Having read so 



