50 EASTERN ETHIOPIA iv 



the edges of two planks overlap a narrow strip of 

 wood is firmly fastened to make them watertight. A 

 strong spar traverses the sides of the boat near the prow 

 and projects on each side beyond the planks; this serves 

 as a handle to enable the boat to lie drawn ashore. The 

 narrow seats are fastened into the boat in a peculiar 

 manner. AVhen the side planks are fashioned, semi- 

 circular notches are made in corresponding parts of the 

 adjacent planks which receive the ends of the seats. 

 The seat has a rounded knob at each end ; this knob is 

 received in the holes formed by the apposition of the 

 semicircular notches in the planks and projects on the 

 outer surface of the boat. When the seats are in 

 position a line of knobs is seen in the line of junction 

 formed by the union of the first and second row of 

 planking. The seats, therefore, give firmness to the boat. 

 In addition to the sharp lieak formed by the keel 

 a movable prow (the prow of peace) is added, and 

 in order to make it firm, a strong cord passes from the 

 prow to the bow of the boat : this line is usually hung 

 with grass or fibre cut to a convenient length. The end 

 of the prow is often surmounted with horns. AVlien 

 completed the boat is usually smeared with red Uganda 

 clay. The boat is impelled by paddles about three feet 

 long; the paddlers sit with their Ijacks to the steersman, 

 who turns the vessel in any desired dii'ection by using 

 his single paddle like a lever on the right or left side. 

 When the lake is calm a boat containing twenty 

 paddlers can be impelled a,t a cjuick rate and for a long 

 time. The paddlers sing monotonous songs as they 

 urge their boats through the waters of the lake. It 

 is an interesting sight to watch such a boat in 

 motion ; the rhythmic movements of the jiaddlers would 

 do credit to any crew ; the handles of the paddles 

 simultaneously strike the sides of the planks and produce 

 a loud knock. The centre of gravity lies far back in the 

 boat, so that the fore part is well out of the water ; 

 each is provided with a baler. 



