18 



roughly cut keelson rises nine or ten inches from the 

 floor, and hurdles are laid on it, which extend to the 

 sides. They are covered with mats made of Rye 

 straw, arid serve the purpose of dunnage ; leaving 

 below a space in which the water that leaks through 

 the sides and bottom is received. The bulk is kept 

 from the sides and ends of the barge by a similar 

 plan. The water, which these ill-constructed and 

 imperfectly caulked vessels receive, is dipped out at 

 the end and sides of the bulk of Wheat. 



Vessels of this description draw from ten to twelve 

 inches of water, and yet they frequently get aground, 

 in descending the river. The cargoes usually consist 

 of from 180 to 200 quarters of Wheat. 



The Wheat is thrown on the mats, piled as high as 

 the gunwale, and left uncovered, exposed to all the 

 inclemencies of the weather, and to the pilfering of the 

 crew. During the passage, the barge is carried along 

 by the force of the stream, oars being merely used at 

 the head and stern, to steer clear of the sand banks, 

 which are numerous and shifting ; and to direct the 

 vessel in passing under the several bridges. These 

 vessels are conducted by six or seven men. A small 

 boat precedes with a man in it, who is employed in 

 sounding, in order to avoid the shifting shoals. This 

 mode of navigating is necessarily very slow ; and 

 during the progress of it, which lasts several weeks, 

 and even months, the rain, if any falls, soon causes 

 the Wheat to grow, and the vessel assumes the ap- 

 pearance of a floating meadow. The shooting of the 

 fibres soon forms a thick mat, and prevents the rain 

 from penetrating more than an inch or two. The 

 main bulk is protected by this kind of covering, and 

 when that is thrown aside, is found in tolerable con- 

 dition. 



The vessels are broken up at Dantzic, and usually 

 sell for about two thirds of their original cost. The 

 men who conduct them return on foot. 



When the cargoc arrives at Dantzic or Elbing, all 



