64 CUSTOM HOUSE. [1845. 



much of the unwieldiness and unmanagableness of these 

 vessels at sea, I am totally at a loss to account for it from 

 their build. It must, therefore, depend on the enormous 

 mast, the great surface of rudder exposed to the waves, 

 or to the want of triangular sails of good canvas, to 

 enable them to work to wind-ward. Under English 

 management, or under the supposition that I had met 

 with one of these vessels in distress at sea, I have not 

 the slightest doubt that we should have found her trim, 

 and got sailing out of her by adapting lighter spars ; for 

 from her very extraordinary build, I am perfectly satis- 

 fied (having witnessed the same models on a smaller scale 

 impelled by sculls,) that they are not wanting in velocity, 

 if properly handled. 



The vessels I am now speaking of, are not to be con- 

 founded with the unwieldy Chinese junks, which are 

 also navigated between Japan, Loo-Choo, and China. 

 The only comparison which would at all approximate, is 

 the Lorcha of Macao, or the pilot boats that look out 

 off the Ladrones for vessels bound to Canton river ; and 

 it is well known these vessels sail remarkably well. 



Our examination was not entirely confined to the 

 water ; the masonry and general construction of what we 

 have hitherto viewed as their defences, excited my in- 

 terest. The entire work of the tongue of masonry, 

 extending sea-ward, from what I assumed to be the 

 Custom-house, is faced with accurately squared blocks of 

 the Coralline limestone, which abounds on the coast-line ; 

 but from the very confined space between the walls and 

 its unfitness for purposes of defence, I am not disposed 

 to attribute any design of this nature in its construction. 



