HISTORY OF NAVIGATION. 23 



centre when placed side by side. They are cut off blunt in the forward 

 part, making a kind of beak of three beams, connected by joints. The 

 beams are placed so as to form an arch underneath, the centre beam 

 making a sort of keel. The catamarans are propelled by oars, a broad oar 

 serving as rudder. They sometimes have a short mast with a triangular 

 sail. Of the strangest construction are the Coringui boats, which are 

 shaped like a shoe. These are entirely closed up, with the exception of a 

 circular opening in the upper part, and rounded off forward, where they are 

 nearly as broad as at the stern, which terminates in a blunt extremity. 

 The bottom of these boats, which are eighteen or twenty feet long, five feet 

 broad, and three feet deep, is almost entirely flat, the sides sloping upwards 

 like a bell, and becoming narrower at the top. These vessels often have a 

 mast with a square sail. 



The vessels of Bengal and at the mouth of the Ganges have a peculiar con- 

 struction. The smallest are the dinghi, equally pointed at both sides, about 

 twenty-five feet long and six feet broad, with a cabin. The transverse section 

 is semi-elliptical ; the planks are curved, fitted to each other, and fastened 

 with iron clamps. Of a larger size, though of a similar form, and more 

 skilfully constructed, are the hauleahs, which are rounded off at the stern, 

 and have a mast towards the prow. The cabin is covered with a flat 

 roof; it is of considerable height, and is furnished with windows. The dak 

 or mail boats on the Ganges have a curved keel, and in the general outUnes 

 of their construction resemble the large European boats. A deck runs the 

 whole length of the boat, with an awning to protect it from the weather. 

 They are propelled by men who stand at the oar. The tow boats are of a 

 similar shape, though the keel is straight, and the stern somewhat rounded 

 off. They are also propelled by standing rowers. The dak are from forty 

 to forty-eight feet long, from twelve to fifteen feet broad, and from five 

 to seven feet deep. The tow boats are rather larger. The patileh is a 

 large transport vessel, from fifty to sixty feet long, and from fourteen to 

 sixteen broad. The planks are fastened with wooden nails to the knee- 

 timbers, and a row of cross-beams passes under the top plank. There is a 

 deck, on which a platform is constructed, seven or eight feet high, where 

 the crew perform their duties. The frame on which this platform is 

 erected is covered with matting for about half its height, and thence a 

 common roof of rice-straw runs under the platform. The gable ends of this 

 building, which occupies three fourths of the length of the vessel, are 

 closed. When the vessel is propelled by oars, the rowers either work 

 together forward, or are distributed at the sides. If there is a mast, they 

 are above on the platform. The rudder is in the shape of an oblique tri- 

 angle, with a base of about ten feet, and four feet in height, so hung by ropes 

 that it can be moved up and down in the water. It is not placed on the 

 continuation of the keel, but rather on one side. The pansways in Calcutta 

 and Cutwa are long vessels propelled by oars, with ten or twelve men. 

 They have a cabin, and now and then a mast. The rudder is usually a 

 paddle, but sometimes constructed like that of the patileh. 



The Birman Empire has a not insignificant marine of 500 men-of-war, 



615 



