INDIAN BOAT DESIGNS. 171 



and narrow logs carefully fitted together side by side and securely lashed in position 

 fore and aft. The middle pair project aft about four feet beyond the outer logs, form- 

 ing a conveniently narrow seat for the paddling steersman who kneels there squatting 

 on the soles of his feet, the feet being stretched backwards straight out along the plank. 

 At the fore end where the four planks end at the same level, the two outer ones are 

 worked down laterally leading forwards and the end is then finished off in a sharp 

 upwardly curved prow by the addition of two narrow wedge-shaped stem pieces. 

 The total overall length is 25^ feet with an extreme breadth of only 3^ feet (fig. 14a 

 and h). 



The device to permit the catamaran to be rowed like a boat is most ingenious. 

 Along the port side a rowing rail made of two bamboos is fixed in the following 

 manner : the fore ends are inserted under the lashing around and securing the fore- 

 ends of the logs, while the aft ends are secured loosely within a ring of rope passing 

 also round the outer plank. To raise the bamboo rail to a proper height and main- 

 tain it there rigidly, a plank stretcher, 10 inches high by 8 inches wide, shaped on its 

 lower edge to fit the curved contour of the catamaran log, is introduced and wedged 

 upright (fig. i^d). A. short length of stake to prevent the wearing through of the 

 bamboo rail is lashed upon the latter and in this are two coir loops to take the rowing 

 paddles. An ordinary crew consists of three men, but on occasion an extra man may 

 be carried. In this case two row on the port side, one paddles forward on the star- 

 board bow, and at the stern is the squatting steersman, plying his paddle right or 

 left as required. The rowers have each a little transverse seat resting loose in a 

 groove on the bottom of the catamaran. 



When employed in working the thuri valai, proper to this type of catamaran, a 

 second and smaller canoe called chiiina mar am (small logs) is required to assist (fig. 14c). 

 This is of simpler design, consisting of 3 logs only and of one single beak-shape stem 

 piece. The middle plank projects some foot and a half aft beyond the others. No 

 rowing rail is present. The overall length is 21 feet, the width 2 feet 4 inches. The 

 crew consists of two men. 



When there is a favourable wind going to or returning from the fishing ground, 

 the larger of the pair of thuri valai catamarans puts up a small lateen sail rigged 

 in the manner already described as used in the boat catamarans of Cape Como- 

 rin. As with the latter, the smaller of the pair ties up alongside the larger one which 

 alone carries mast and sail. 



For drift net fishing the irukka mar am variety is chiefly employed (fig. 15). This 

 is very similar to the periya maram but consists of five logs instead of four, the middle 

 or odd log being the longest, projecting aft some distance beyond the inner lateral ones 

 which in turn project beyond the outer lateral pair. The stern ends therefore in a 

 series of steps. The beaked prow is formed of three stem pieces whereon is hooked a 

 single-fluke wooden anchor with stone-weighed shank. A rowing rail is present and 

 mast and sail of the usual type are fitted. This variety is used singly and not in 

 pairs or double pairs as in thuri valai and edu valai fishing. 



A simpler and shorter form constructed of five logs unprovided with any beaked 



