388 HISTORY OF THE SEA. 



sailors of Acheen were also put ashore. The whole eight joined 

 company, purchased a canoe, for which they gave an axe in 

 exchange, and set off* to row to Acheen. They had* not pro- 

 ceeded half a mile before the canoe overset. They swam 

 ashore, dragging the canoe and their chests, and spent three 

 days in making repairs. The Acheenese fitted the canoe with 

 that universal Polynesian apparatus, — an outrigger, or balancer, 

 on each side, — by which capsizing is rendered impossible. They 



POLYNESIAN CANOE, WITH ITS OUTRIGGER. 



felled a mast in the woods and made a substantial sail with 

 mats. They put off again, following the shore for several days. 

 At length they ventured forth upon the open sea, with one 

 hundred and fifty miles of dangerous navigation before them. 

 They rowed with four oars, taking their turns, — Dampier and 

 Hall, one of the Englishmen, relieving each other at the tiller, 

 none of the rest being able to steer. The current against them 

 was very strong, so that, when looking in front for Sumatra, 

 Nicobar, to their dismay, was still visible behind them. A dense 

 halo round the sun, portending a storm, now caused great 

 anxiety to Dampier. The wind freshened till it blew a gale, 

 and they reefed the sail one-half of its surface. The light 

 bamboo poles supporting the outriggers bent as if they would 

 break; and, if they had broken, the destruction of the boat 

 would have been inevitable. Putting away directly before the 

 wind, they ran off their course for six hours, the outriggers being 

 very much relieved by this change of direction. 



