INDIAN BOAT DESIGNS. 155 



stern of the smaller, of which the fore end is lashed to the other. The two craft do 

 not lie quite parallel to one another when sailing but diverge slightly aft. This 

 particular form of catamaran appears to be favoured on this coast rather than the 

 wider one seen further north, as affording greater stability in the wicked short cross 

 seas that so much prevail in this region. On the other hand the great surf rollers 

 that career shorewards over long stretches of shoals on the Coromandel coast can be 

 ridden over much more safely by a broad-built raft than by a heavy, deeply keeled 

 craft. The Comorin and Tinnevelly coast is also fairly well served by little coves 

 and bays, which give just enough security even in bad weather for the safe beach- 

 ing of these catamarans. 



Catamarans are used almost exclusively in that particular form of fishing where 

 the madi valai is employed. This net is a deep-water or boat seine shot from two 

 partner catamarans across the path of shoaling fish. The almost total absence of 

 freeboard in the catamarans enables this net to be hauled with ease, not possible 

 in the high freeboard boats next to be described — a quality that goes far to ensure 

 the survival of this apparently antiquated type. 



For other forms of fishing on the Tinnevelly coast, the boat-canoe already alluded 

 to is exclusively used. For the principal methods different sizes are employed. All 

 are termed hallams or vallams, almost the same term as is used by Mesopotamian Arabs 

 for all dug-out canoes and for all boats of canoe form — long, narrow and keelless. 



The essential differences between these canoe-boats and the ordinary Malabar dug- 

 out, is that the original dug-out has been spread and its sides raised so that considerable 

 stability is acquired. Instead of depending on paddles for propulsion these boats are 

 designed primarily for sailing and on a fair wind they have a fine turn of speed. Close 

 hauled they perform badly as they are wholly without keel, having retained the origi- 

 nal rounded bottom of the dug-out. 



The mast is of medium height and is fitted nearly amidships. The rig is a single 

 short and wide lug, not very far removed frofn the square sail from which it is clearly 

 derived (fig. 2, pi. v). Except in enlarged models built wholly of planks upon the same 

 lines for coral-stone work, no mizzen is carried. A peculiarity of these canoe-boats is 

 a double pulley fitted in a square truck upon the extremity of the mast to which point 

 the yard is hoisted. Owing to the high freeboard and the lowness of the thwarts, so 

 placed to secure good stability, rowing is difficult and wearisome to those not 

 accustomed to these boats. In one case in which we lent one to some Kilakarai 

 divers they complained so bitterly of this, that fresh thwarts had to be fitted six 

 inches higher than the original ones. 



A powerful rudder of elegant shape is employed, fixed with the usual gudgeon 

 and pintle ; it descends considerably below the rounded bottom and thus contributes 

 slightly to reduce the disability of want of keel. It is strange that the use of a 

 leeboard is unknown or unpractised seeing that this is employed regularly by the 

 outrigger boats of Ceylon, Kilakarai and Palk Bay. The introduction of this useful 

 accessory is therefore one of the minor improvements now being brought in by the 

 Madras Fisheries Department, 



