Aug. 6, i8o87] 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
The Flying Proa. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
At the close of the unpleasantness between the South 
and the rest of the States, the writer hereof, being one 
of the few who were debarred from parole, went out 
into the world to find employment for his energies, and 
to rough it for victuals and clothes until the time should 
arrive when he could become a citizen of our common 
country. Educated as a physician, he was fortunate 
enough to secure a position on board a British steamer 
then engaged in the coolie trade to South America and 
the West Indies, and in this capacity spent several years 
up and down the China seas and among the islands of the 
Pacific, now grouped under the head of Oceanica. He 
has been in the Philippines frequently, and in Manila 
probably a score of times, and it was in that harbor 
that he got the opportunity of seeing and closely ex- 
amining that marvel of sailing crafts, the prahu; or, as 
incorrectly called, proa. 
The word prahu is pronounced very much like "prow," 
as spoken down on Cape Cod, the h being silent and the 
u enunciated like oo in cool, hence the word "prow," 
the common nautical name for the craft, has no refer- 
ence to that portion of a vessel, but is the nearest ap- 
proach to the native or Malay name for the boat. 
The prahu originated (as I was informed by a surgeon 
in H. M. Indian service, whose long residence in the 
East and knowledge of Hindustani and native languages 
and dialects, including Malayu, made him a mine of 
information on all matters pertaining to Indonesian his- 
tory, ethnology and affairs .generally*) in the Laccadive 
group, though just why there, when the same conditions 
obtain in all the islands and groups of the Indian and 
Pacific oceans, and the craft so admirably fulfills them, I 
cannot see. 
By what fortunate chance or by what inspiration this 
marvelous model of naval construction was evolved must 
ever remain a mystery. Certain it is that, as in the Aus- 
tralian boomerang, the highest mathematical knowledge of 
our vaunted civilization, while it can follow out by intri- 
cate calculations and demonstrate to a nicety that both 
are built upon the lines of the highest science, yet would 
never have suggested either. 
The prahu is diametrically opposed to all of our ideas 
of naval construction. While with us bow and stern are 
widely different, in the prahu they are alike. With us, on 
the contrary, the two sides of our vessels are exactly 
alike, with her they are as unlike as they could possibly 
be made — one, the port, being bellied or rounded out, 
while the lee side is as flat as boards can be. I can 
scarcely give a better idea of the shape of the prahu than 
by saying that if we took a purse-net seine boat, both 
ends of which are sharp, and sawed it in two longitudin- 
ally from stem to stern, and nailed a board sufficiently 
wide and long to the open side, we would have the 
models of two prahus, as shown by the outline sketch 
A. 
It is obvious that a craft of this shape, left as it is, has 
no stability. It would at once list and fill, and probably 
sink; so to prevent this it is fitted with outriggers of 
light but strong bamboo, at the extremity of which is 
a log, sharp at both ends, of palm or other heavy 
wood, but usually of the body of the cocoanut palm, 
which is exceedingly hard, close-grained and heavy. The 
shape of this log is that of a solid pirogue, or of a 
log that has been shaped for a canoe, but not yet dug 
out. This is lashed to the extremities of the bamboo 
poles, so that the distance from the hull of the prahu 
can be regulated to the load of the latter, being ap- 
proached when the load is light and removed when 
it is heavy, thus giving the craft an immense breadth 
of beam, and one always suited to the occasion. 
The mast is stepped in the exact center of the flat 
(lee) side, and the craft sails equally well with either 
end as bow or stern. It is in tacking and windward work 
that the wonderful fitness of the prahu for these seas 
(where a steady wind can always be relied upon, ac- 
cording to the season) is shown. The prahu, under 
these circumstances, tacks frequently, and to facilitate 
matters a steersman or helmsman is kept constantly 
at each end. When the craft wants to go about the rais 
(sea-Arabic for captain) gives the order, the prahu 
bears away and brings what was the stern end of the 
boat to the wind, the heel of the sail is shifted to the 
opposite side, the boom swung in the opposite direc- 
tion, and presto, the maneuver is accomplished, and off 
she goes like an arrow from a bow, stern formost, the 
same side, the flat one, however, remaining always the 
weather one. 
The sails are (or were, in my day) invariably of 
•matting, and triangular in shape, the boom being of 
bamboo. 
As to the hull of the prahu, there is not a nail or piece 
of metal used in its construction. The planks are 
sewed together with fibers from the native plants, so 
many of which abound in those regions, rich in strong 
and durable fibers. The interstices are caulked with coir 
(cocoanut) oakum, and the whole is made water-tight 
by a plentiful use of the native resins and gums. The 
framing, what little there is, is pinnea together with 
wooden pins. 
The prahu passes through rather than over the waves, 
and the first sight of one of the little craft careering 
along, like a race horse, through the waves, its nearly 
nude crew perched, if the breeze is heavy, out on the out- 
rigger, its helmsmen standing straight and stiff, like 
crows in the rain, at either end, is one never to be for- 
gotten while memory lasts. 
As to speed, the prahu in any sort of weather can 
sail around and ^around out swiftest yachts, and still 
keep ahead of them. She glides, on the lightest breath 
of air, through the water like a living thing, and in a 
gale her speed is astonishing, and while, it must be 
confessed, not the most comfortable craft in the world, 
she is the safest. 
I remember, now some twenty-five years ago, coming 
on deck one morning, and seeing the sail of a prahu 
just visible above the horizon dead astern. We were 
steaming and sailing, and making some' eight or nine 
knots. In about two and a half hours she was along- 
side, passed us like a flash, and in two hours more she 
was hull-down dead ahead. 
In constructing the prahu, as in building everything 
else, the tool most used is the parang, a heavy knife, 
narrow at the handle, but widening out at the. tip to about 
3in. The parang is the constant companion of the 
Malay, whether he be orang laut (man of the sea), orang 
malayu (the more civilized Malay), or orang benua (the 
wild or mountain man), and he uses it for hewing, cut- 
ting, cleaving and mortising, as krrife, axe, adze and saw, 
and occasionally as weapon; but the weapon of the 
Malay is the kris or crease. With this he hews out and 
shapes and joints the slender boards of which the hull 
is made. 
I am convinced, from the observations of five years 
spent up and down the China and Indian seas, that if we 
of the West, with our mechanical skill and resources, 
would take the prahu as a model, and construct a vessel 
in which the principles involved are developed, the re- 
sult would be a marvel of speed. The prahus are com- 
paratively small, as may easily be understood from what 
has been said, since the largest can be no longer than 
planks hewn from one log. My memory does not serve 
me very well at this length of time, but as well as I 
can remember, I never saw one more than 45ft. long, and 
possibly not this length, since it is a well-known pheno- 
c 
* This description, so far as it goes, fits very closely our old 
friend Dr. C. M. Douglas, the canoeist; possibly our corre- 
spondent has met Dr. Douglas in the East. — Editor. 
menon of memory that it always exaggerates the dimen- 
sions or buildings, vessels, etc. (as anyone who has re- 
turned to the scenes of his boyhood after an absence of 
even a few years can testify.. Buildings that were re- 
membered as enormous structures turn out to be very 
small, and distances once thought long are found to be 
relatively trifling). 
Hitherto attempts have been made to utilize twin hulls, 
bridged across by a deck over the water, but such at- 
tempts have always proven failures as far as speed is 
concerned, because the hulls, being duplicates of each 
other, and each having bellying bows (B. B.), heaped up 
the water between them, and thus retarded progress. If, 
however, the proa shape of hull were taken (C. C.) with 
the flat sides inward, this objection would not obtain, 
and in my opinion the result would be a fast craft. The 
wheel or screw might be placed in the center, and prob- 
ably to advantage, though I am not engineer enough to 
say whether it would be or not. 
I cannot say that the prahu is a comfortable craft, ac- 
cording to our European ideas of comfort at least, 
though many a time I have envied the bath that the 
chaps on the outrigger were getting as the prahu dashed 
through the waves on a light breeze, while we were 
loblollying around in the intolerable heat. 
With this craft, as I have described it, the natives put 
to sea in weather in which no European vessel of twice 
its size and staunchness could live' more than a few 
minutes, and borne on by the "trades," go from island 
to island with the directness of the flight of a pigeon, and 
with nearly the speed of one. 
That the prahu is of Malay origin can scarcely be 
doubted, tradition to the contrary, and from the follow- 
ing facts: The Malay dwellings throughout Indonesia 
and Australasia resemble prahus in their shape and 
construction — insomuch indeed that a Malay village 
looks for all the world like a lot of stranded prahus. 
The Malay word for "village" is the same as that for 
"boat" (of any sort), or balangay, a fact which recalls 
a period when Malays migrating or pirating, sea-rovers 
that they are, on reaching a new place of habitation, or 
seeking shelter for a period oh shore, drew their boats 
up out of the water, turned them over to one side and 
made dwellings of them. 
Vieux Moustache. 
[For several years past Mr. Robert Tyson, of Toronto, 
an old canoeist, has been experimenting with the proa 
idea, producing a very comfortable and fast sailing* boat. 
No attempt is made to attain the exceptional speed of 
the proa, the object being a boat as simple and con- 
venient as the sailing canoe, but more comfortable. — 
Editor Forest and Stream. ] 
Manchester Y. C. Midsummer Series. 
Manchester, Mass. 
July 27, 28, 29. 
The Manchester Y. C. held its midsummer series of 
races last week, beginning on July 27. The races were 
open to yachts of the 30ft., 25ft., 21ft. and 18ft. classes, 
Y. R. A., and raceabouts; cabin and open yachts sailing 
together in the 21ft. class. Cash prizes were given, with 
the Y. R. A. percentages. The courses were: 
. For 30ft., 25ft., 21ft. classes, course 1 — From starting- 
line, leaving Hardy's Rocks to starboard; thence to black 
buoy off Martin's Ledge, leaving it to starboard; thence 
to black buoys Nos. 5 and 7, off Coney Island and Coney 
Island Ledges, leaving them to port; thence to black 
buoy ii, off Little Haste, leaving it to starboard; thence 
to finish line. 
Course 2 — Reverse of course 1. 
For smaller classes, course 3 — From starting line to 
black buoy No. 5, off Baker's Island; thence to black 
buoy 11, off Little Haste; thence to finish line, leaving 
all marks to starboard. 
Course 4 — Reverse of course 3 
On Wednesday the conditions were very poor, a light 
S.E. breeze and heavy fog, but a start was made at 
12:30. A very good race was sailed, considering the 
weather, the times being: 
30ft. Class. 
Elapsed. 
Ashumet, C. F. Bache 1 34 33 
Harbinger, W. F. Bache 
- . , 25ft. Class. 
Little Peter, H. Moebs 14111 
Beatrice, J. Cavanagh , 14128 
Hermes, A. W. Chesterton 1 42 43 
Raceabout Class. 
.Tilt, W. O. Gay \ 1 48 33 
Smtram, W. P. Fowle 1 51 37 
Mongoose II., J. D. Irving 1 51 55 
Fancy, C. F. Lyman 1 42 32 
Chinook, Adams Bros 1 54 35 
Typhoon, E. V. R. Thayer, Jr 1 55 40 
funipoo, J. L. Brewer ...1 55 58 
Quill, J. F. Cole 1 56 55 
Spindrift, W. H. S. Lothrop 1 57 47 
Darthea, E. C. Lambert Withdrew. 
18ft. Class. 
Circe, F. L. Pigeon 1 52 08 
Duchess, C. D. Mower „ 1 52 38 
Vamoose, R. M. Benner 1 52 39 
Prize winners were: First prizes, Ashumet $15, Little 
Peter $15, Jilt $15, Circe $10; second prizes, Beatrice 
$10, Sintram $10, Duchess $5; third prize, Mongoose, $5 
The 21-footer Snipe II. was at the line ready to start, 
but had no boat to sail against. 
The judges were: Messrs. G. M. Mansfield, A. G. 
Wood, W. A. Tucker, James Bertram, A. Henry Hig- 
ginson. 
The Manchester 15ft. class mustered half a dozen 
starters, but they were lost in the fog, and none finished. 
On Thursday the conditions were still worse, rain be- 
ing added to the fog, so that the race was postponed to 
the following morning at 10:30. 
On Friday morning the postponed race was started in 
a light and fluky south wind. Though the course was 
covered by all but the 15-footers, the race was very 
fluky and unsatisfactory. The times were: 
25ft. Class. 
Beatrice, T. Cavanagh .'I'l5^f' 
Eleanor, D. B. Clapp ...2 17 30 
Little Peter, H. Moebs 2 17 51 
Hermes, A. W. Chesterton f .$ 10 37 
Raceabouts, 
Jilt, W. O. Gay 2 23 30 
Typhoon, E. V. R. Thayer ....2 31 21 
Quill, John F. Cole ■ 2 33 17 
bin tram, W. P. Fowle 2 34 27 
Fancy C. F. Lyman 2 34 39 
Chinook, C. F. Adams 2d 2 34 47 
Gosling, Clark & North 2 35 19 
Hazard, H. M. Sears , 2 38 00 
Tunipoo, J. L. Brewer ; 2 45 43 
Spindrift, W. S. H. Lothrop , Withdrew. 
21ft. Class. 
Snipe II., Boardman Bros 2 13 30 
Bud, S. N. Small 2 18 02 
Tacoma, Elmer Prior 2 40 46 
Fesit, N. R. Blaney , % 43 37 
18ft. Class. 
Circe, F. L. Pigeon 2 20 28 
Duchess, C. D. Mower 2 26 28 
Vamoose, R. M. Benner .'3 40 00 
The judges were: G. W. Mansfield, A. G. Wood, A. 
H. Higginson and W. A. Tucker. ' 
There was so little wind- in the afternoon that the 
second race was postponed to Monday afternoon, the 
race for the Cronhurst cup, set for that time, being 
changed to 10:30 A. M. 
East Gloucester Y. C. 
Gloucester, Mass. 
Wednesday, July 27. 
The East Gloucester Y. C. sailed a club race on July 
27 in the evening. The wind was light from the east and 
there was a heavy fog. The times were: 
First Class. 
Elapsed. 
Torment, Pomeroy Bros 1 26 20 
Skedaddle, Merchant 1 46 50 
Second Class. 
Ariel, A. W. Gosbee , 1 22 20 
Luna, S. D. Hildreth r ..1 26 56 
Third Class. 
Doris, J. L. Proctor 1 40 33 
Ideal, j. R. Jeffery .156 12 
Hoodoo, C. McCurdy Did not Finish, 
Kingston Y. C. Special Race. 
Kingston, Mass. 
Tuesday, July 26. 
The Kingston Y. C. sailed a special race for the 15ft. 
class on July 26, over a 6-mile course, in a moderate S, 
W. wind, the times being: 
>*« • * w ' Elapsed. 
Olympia, W. Steele , 1 45 S3 
Veritas, Alex. Holmes i^... 1 49 07 
Scrap, A. B. Holmes 1 50 32 
Waban, G. W. Schiverick ......15138 
Kittawake, H. M. Jones \\ 53 10 
Frolic, J. C. Dawes ...1 53 20 
