1769 BOAT-BUILDING 161 
all round with a frame of wood, and has no contrivance 
either for reefing or furling, so that in case of bad weather 
it must be entirely cut away; but I fancy that in these 
moderate climates they are seldom brought to this necessity. 
The material of which it is made is universally matting. 
With these sails their canoes go at a very good rate, and 
lie very near the wind, probably on account of their sail 
being bordered with wood, which makes them stand better 
than any bow-lines could possibly do. On the top of this 
sail they carry an ornament which, in taste, resembles much 
our pennants; it is made of feathers, and reaches down to 
the very water, so that when blown out by the wind it 
makes no inconsiderable show. They are fond of ornaments 
in all parts of their boats; in the good ones they commonly 
have a figure at the stern, and in the pahzes they have a 
figure at both ends, and the smaller ivahahs have usually 
a small carved pillar upon the stern. 
Considering that these people are so entirely destitute of 
iron, they build these canoes very well. Of the ivahahs the 
foundation is always the trunks of one or more trees 
hollowed out: the ends of these are sloped off, and sewed 
together with the fibres of the husk of the cocoanut; the 
sides are then raised with planks sewed together in the same 
manner. 
The pahies, as they are much better embarkations, so 
they are built in a more ingenious manner. Like the 
others they are laid upon a long keel, which, however, is not 
more than four or five inches deep. Upon this they raise 
two ranges of planks, each. of which is about eighteen inches 
high, and about four or five feet in length: such a number 
of pieces must necessarily be framed and fitted together 
before they are sewed; and this they do very dexterously, 
supporting the keel by ropes made fast to the top of the 
house under which they work, and each plank by a 
stanchion; so that the canoe is completely put together 
before any one part is fastened to the next, and in this 
manner it is supported till the sewing is completed. This, 
however, soon rots in the salt water; it must be renewed 
M 
