RIGGING, &c. 67 



topmast* and the mizen top-gallant mast* The mizen topmast shrouds* 

 consist of three ropes. The mizen top-gallant futtock shrouds,* of two ropes 

 on each side. The mizen topmast stay* The mizen braces^ "". The mizen 

 top-gallant shrouds* two ropes. The mizen top-gallant mast stay* The 

 mizen top-gallant lifts, ^\ The mizen top-gallant braces, ''^ The mizen-top- 

 sail sheets, *" ; the clew- lines, " ; bowlines, ^^ ; buntlines, ^\ The jeers of the 

 mizen top-gallant yard, " ; the sheets, " ; clewlines, " ; bowlines, ". The 

 mizen topsail tie, '"\ The jeers of the mizen top-gallant sail, ^'^ ; its sheets, "' ; 

 clewlines, ^\ The spanker vangs, ''*, serve to turn the gaff to the wind. 

 The gaff halliard, "", raises or lowers the gaff. The lift of the spanker, "^ ; 

 the sheets, " ; and clewgarnets, ". Only the main-sail, the fore-sail, the two 

 topsails, and the mizen-top-sail have reef-tackles, ''^, reef-lines, and edge- 

 lines,'". The flags and streamers,''^. 



The bowsprit has the following rigging. The bow stays* are formed of 

 ropes passing from the end of the bowsprit and the jib-boom to the bows, 

 where they are fastened. They secure the sides of the bowsprit. The 

 running stays* are two ropes passing over the bowsprit from the cap to the 

 forecastle, where they are fastened, forming a sort of baluster on each side of 

 the bow. The bobstay is a strong rope, double and triple in large men-of-war, 

 which fastens the bowsprit to the stem ; its length is equal to the breadth 

 and half the depth of the ship {QQ feet 5 inches). The lifts of the sprit-sail 

 yard, -, are equal in length to the breadth and half length of the ship (156 

 feet 11 inches). The sprit-sail braces are equal to the length and twice 

 the breadth of the ship (313 feet 10 inches). The tacks of the jib ^, its 

 sheets ", and its jeers ^ complete the rigging of the bowsprit. 



The staysails have three ropes : the halliards, for drawing them up ; the 

 downhaul, the use of which is denoted by its name ; and the sheets, to 

 stretch the lower corner right or left. 



The foot ropes, or horses, extend along the yards and bowsprit, on which 

 the men stand when reefing or furling. PL 2^, fig. 3. 



3. The Sails. The object of the sails is to receive the wind and thus 

 propel the ship. Their arrangement now forms a system of great ingenuity, 

 giving the appropriate position to them, in all cases, with rapidity and 

 certainty. They are made of very thick hempen cloth, manufactured for 

 the purpose, with three different degrees of strength, so that the strongest 

 may be used for the lower sails. Indeed, the upper sails are sometimes 

 made of linen or cotton. A sail is composed of several breadths of sail 

 cloth, sewed lengthwise with strong tarred sail-yarn. The whole work is 

 done on the sail-bench, by a part of the ship's company, called sailmakers, 

 as in pi. 8, fig. 6. The borders of the sail, called leeches, at the sides are 

 surrounded with a fine, light-spun rope, called bolt-rope. At the corners, 

 and wherever ropes are attached for stretching the sails, small iron rings 

 are inserted. A row of holes is made on the head of the sails, through 

 which short lines are passed, bending the sail to the yard. Here, and 

 wherever holes are made for reef-lines, the sail-cloth is doubled. The 

 side of the sail towards the stern of the ship is called the inner side. In order 

 to fasten the yards, rings of rope with knobs are used {pi. II, fig. 30). 



709 



