INDIAN BOAT DESIGNS. 



255 



as is probably the case, the inference follows that their local vessels may be expected 

 to retain more marked archaic characteristics than those of ports more open to out- 

 side influence. The same deduction may be drawn regarding the Point Calimere kalla 

 dhonis which are employed solely in traffic with the north of Ceylon and whose crews 

 are closely related in origin, caste and customs with the men who man the Jaffna 

 dhonis. Both are above the average in religious zeal, and aspire to be considered 

 much higher in caste than the ordinary run of coast fishermen and sailors. 



Other evidence of the ancient character of the custom is obtained from the fres- 

 coes in the Ajanta caves (Hyderabad), dating about 600 A.D. Among these are depic- 

 ted a three-masted ship and a royal barge, both provided with eyes on the bows.^ 

 Similarly the Buddhist sculptures of Boro Budur in Java, belonging to the 8th and 

 9th centuries of our era, include one of a two-masted ship furnished with eyes ; in this 

 however the eyes have the unique peculiarity of being situated both on the bows 



Fig. 33.— Oculus of boss-shape, on the head-boards of a Chinese junk, Shanghai. (Original). 



and on the quarters — two pairs (fig. 29). This boat, Hke nearly all those depicted 

 in these sculptures, is provided with outriggers, and it is possible that eyes at both 

 ends is a reminiscence of the early days when boats provided with outriggers had no 

 definite prow and stern, and sailed indifferently either end forward, according to the 

 direction of the wind. If " eyes " were in use at this stage of eastern boat evolution, 

 we may be sure there was one pair at each end. But it riiust be noted that only one 

 of the several instances of boats and ships represented in the Boro Budur sculp- 

 tures, show evidence of the use of " eyes." Even so early the custom had ceased to 

 be habitual. 



Eastwards from India, the principal peoples who employ the oculus are the Chinese 

 and the Annamites ; among them the custom flourishes, indeed only with them through- 

 out the whole world is the custom habitual and universal. The exceptions where no 



Mukerji, R., Indian Shipping, p. 41. 



