180 J. HORNELL ON 



by closely set palmyra reepers tied down with coir. The aft deck is the larger; 

 on it a small cooking galley and several water barrels find accommodation. In 

 the centre is a small hatchway. There is no poop, the gunwale having a clear 

 run fore and aft. As ship's boats, a small outrigger canoe and a fair-sized catamaran 

 are carried, both useful types for a small coaster with restricted deck accom- 

 modation, as they can be taken to pieces and stowed away without difficulty. 



As in the Laccadive boats, the hull, here also usually painted, pitched or 

 tarred black, is ornamented with two parallel white lines. In the dhonis the lines 

 are equibroad ; at the rise of each bow, they are bent abruptly downwards and pass 

 to the stempost in such a way as to leave a triangular patch of black, beneath the 

 coiled prow or suriil. In the angle or elbow of the two white bands is nailed on 

 a carefully carved ornament in the likeness of a human eye, pupil and eyelids well 

 defined by being picked out in black and white — the eye of the god who has his 

 shrine within the bows. With these eyes, the tindal stated that his ship would be 

 able to avoid danger — without them she would be like a blind man blundering into 

 danger with every step he takes. (PI. VI, fig. 2). 



The dimensions of a typical Ceylon padagu from Valaveddithurai are as follows :— 



Length between perpendiculars . . . . 100 feet. 



Beam . . . . . . .. 21 ft. 2 in. 



Depth from keel to top of gunwale . . . . 14 feet. 



Tonnage . . . . . . . . 144 tons. 



Muhammadan padagus are similar in all respects save in having no curved prow 

 and having no eyes on the bows. 



The Sinhalese outrigger coaster or yathra oruwa {yathra dhoiu, Tamil), hailing 

 from the south-west coast of Ceylon, which, on account of its size, requires mention 

 here, has already bean describad. In many points — the two pole masts carried, 

 the sharp ends, the palm leaf or bamboo penthouse roof in place of a deck and other 

 details — it shows a great family resemblance to the padagu ; probably this Sinhal- 

 ese type is the original of the latter, the great outrigger having been eliminated 

 by the north2r;i5rs as they passed the unskilful and timid stage of long voyage 

 coasting wherein the Sinhalese still remain. 



The MA1.DIVE IS1.ANDS. 



No people of the Indian Ocean are the superior of the Maldivians as boat-builders, 

 fisherman, and sailors, though for neatness of finish and beauty of line of their smaller 

 craft, the neigliboaring Laccadive islanders excel them. 



For shore work the Maldivians formerly relied largely upon outrigger canoes and 

 boats, but these are seldom seen novv-a-days, handsome little beamy skiffs having 

 largely replaced them. Alike with all those of the Indian mainland, the Maldivian 

 outriggers have the booms connected directly with the float ; all are of the single type. 



Tne mo:it numerous craft in the.se islands are bonito-fishing boats (fig. 22). These 

 are very handsome and wonderfully speedy boats showing, in the type used at Minicoy, 



