Albany. 241 



they choofe white oak for the bottom, as 

 being the fofter wood, and not fplitting fd 

 eaiily : and the bottom being continually 

 under water, is not To much exfofed to 

 putrefaction, and holds out longer. 



The Canoes which the yachts have 

 along with them, are made of a fingle 

 piece of wood, hollowed out ; they are 

 fharp on both ends, frequently three or 

 four fathoms long, and as broad as the 

 thicknefs of the wood will allow. The 

 people in it do not row fitting, but com- 

 monly a fqllow ftands at each end, with a 

 fhort oar jn his hand, with which he go- 

 verns and brings the canoe forwards. 

 Thofe which are made here at Albany, are 

 commonly of the white Vine ; they can do 

 fervice for eight or twelve years, efpecially 

 if they be tarred and painted. At Albany 

 they make them of the white pine, fined 

 there is no other wood fit for them ; at 

 New Tork they are made of the tulip-tree, 

 and in other parts they are made of red 

 or white cedars : but both thefe trees are 

 fo fmall, in the neighbourhood of Albany, 

 that they are unfit for canoes ; there are no 

 feats in the canoes, for if they had anv, 

 they would be more liable to be overfet, as 

 One could not keep the equilibrium fo well. 



Vol. II. Q^ Bat-toes 



