310 



PASSAGE JUNK. 



Chap. XTV. 



by two strong stakes — one near tlie bow, and tbe 

 otber near the stern — which went from the deck 

 right through her keel. These stakes by their 

 own weight fall firmly into the mud, and while 

 they secure the vessel, at the same time they allow 

 her to rise with the tide. 



This mode of navigation, curious though it may 

 seem at first sight, is very safe and almost in- 

 dispensable where the tides run so rapidly. It will 

 be observed that the vessel was at first aground on 

 a mud- flat, which gradually rose towards the banks 

 in the form of an inclined plane. As soon as the 

 tide rose sufficiently to enable her to float, she was 

 propelled in the proper direction by poling. If 

 she grounded again before she made the bank, the 

 stakes were let down, and she was secured for a 

 second or two until she floated again. And so 

 she was propelled forward, and kept in her position 

 in this way, until the bank was reached, and she 

 was finally secured. All this occupies less time 

 than it takes to describe it, particularly during 

 spring-tides ; but if the sailors waited until they 

 had plenty of water to carry them inshore at once, 

 in many instances the force of the flowing tide 

 would render the junk unmanageable, and carry 

 her right up the bay. 



When the junk had been brought into her 

 proper position alongside the bank where we were 

 standing, she was secured by strong cables made 

 fast at stem and stern, and then tied to wooden 

 stakes which were driven firmly into the bank 



