FORfiSt ANfi STMfiAM. 
tSepi. 24, 
SINGHALESE PROA LINES TAKEN FROM MODEL. 
t&chting. 
As the yachting journal of America, the Forest and Stream is 
the recognized medium of communication between the maker of 
yachtsmen's supplies and the yachting public. Its value for ad- 
vertising has been demonstrated by patrons who have employed 
its columns continuously for years. 
Another Proa, 
The following illustration and description of a proa 
appeared in the Forest and Stream of Oct. 23, 1890. 
The half-tone cut shows a similar craft of full size, ex- 
hibited at the World's Fair at Chicago. 
The modern racing canoe is peculiarly a product of 
civilization, the result of a long course of study and 
experiment by men of education and intelligence; but, 
unique as it is, with its narrow beam, large sails and 
sliding deck seat, a parallel may be found for it in the 
work of comparative savages. The canoe here shown, 
though differing in many important' particulars, is yet 
closely enough allied to the American racing canoe to 
make" a comparison both interesting and instructive. 
Both are craft of narrow beam and light displacement, 
with little or ho stability in the hull itself, but carrying 
very large sails by virtue of practical mechanical con- 
trivances. What is done in the more civilized craft by 
the weight of the crew thrown far out to- windward is 
accomplished in the' other by a similar means, a fixed 
weight being used that serves at the same time as a 
counter balance in itself and as a support for live ballast 
in the shape of the crew outside of the hull proper. The 
craft here described is known as the Singhalese, Ceylon- 
ese or Pointe de Galle canoe or proa, and is used in the 
vicinity of the Island of Ceylon. The following drawing 
and description were furnished by Mr. John W. Ken- 
nedy, of Chicago. We hardly fancy that it will be 
necessary for some time to prohibit floating outriggers 
in the rules of the A. C. A., but the idea has already been 
tried by a Chicago canoeist, his canoe being fitted with 
a metal cylinder 'of about 7olbs. displacement rigged out 
in each side. 
According to Folkard these boats have been in use 
for several thousand years, he supposes Pliny to refer 
to them. Anson, in his voyages, speaks of their speed 
in extravagant terms, declaring that they sail thirty 
miles an hour. Observations taken by British officers 
show them to have a speed of twenty miles an hour. 
Com. Wilkes, of the United States Navy, speaks of the 
speed of similar boats as inconceivable. The model from 
which these lines are takem was made by a native. It 
was sent from India by Capt. Baker, of Boston, who 
wrote: "These canoes are at once the safest and fastest 
boats that float. Their high wall sides and great rake 
of bows enable them to live in heavy seas, and their 
narrow beam and enormous sail give them remarkable 
speed. They easily sail around the fastest English 
pilot boats. They sail close to the wind, and make but 
SAIL AND FITTINGS OF PROA. 
little leeway. I have met them sixty miles at sea, and 
you need have no fear of crossing Lake Michigan in 
one of these canoes; but be sure of your fastenings! 
These boats make good headway under paddles." The 
sailing directions sent by Capt. Baker have unfortunate- 
ly been lost. It will be seen that the sail must be man- 
aged somewhat as a dipping lug, and that the boat 
tacks without turning; the balance beam being always 
to windward; the sail being swung around, end for 
end, and the boat starting on the new tack with the 
end forward which was previously aft. 
The main body of the canoe is made from the trunk 
of a tree, the upper third is formed of planking. The 
planks are lashed to the canoe portion by thongs; the 
angle of junction between the two parts being filled 
with a strip of bark or wood properly fitted in. The 
planks are joined to one another also by lashing. The 
seams are made water tight by pitch. At a number 
of points below the sheerline, especially where the mast 
is placed, and where the outriggers rest, a wooden pin 
pierces both sides of the planking extending across the 
boat and projecting some distance beyond it. By means 
of these beams the outriggers are lashed down across 
the gunwale, and securely held in place by a sort of 
figure of 8 knot. The mast stands on the lee side of 
the plank portion, with its foot resting on the canoe. 
It is lashed to a cross tie, and is properly sustained by 
guys. It is exactly amidships. The two outriggers are 
not placed at equal distances from the center, but they 
may be said to be led aft, so that the balance beam floats 
very much nearer one end of the canoe than the other. 
It is probable that this is only a matter of convenience, 
in order that one end of the boat may be utilized more 
easily and safely in landing, boarding, etc. About mid- 
way between the middle of the boat and the extremities, 
seats for the crew are arranged longitudinally, two on 
MODEL OF PROA. 
THE PROA AT THE WORLD'S FAIR. 
Photo by B. Waters. 
either side. They consist of a board resting with its in- 
ner edge on the gunwale. The crew sit on these seats, 
with their feet hanging in the canoe. These benches are 
secured to the cross ties. 
The balance beam is a log ' of wood in gen- 
eral shape like a cigar. Near its upper ' circumference, 
toward either end. a notch is cut for the reception of 
the outrigger. Below this notch is a large hole which 
pierces the beam from side to side, through this hole the 
rope passes by means of which the properly notched out- 
rigger is most firmly lashed' to the beam. The beam, as 
will be seen in the cut, is not exactly alike at each 
end. Whether this variation be from accident or de- 
sign is not known. ' It. may be here remarked that in 
order that the balance beam shall secure equal stability 
to the boat on either side, it is necessary that its specific 
gravity should be just half that of water (that is, that its 
weight relatively to water should be such that in heeling 
the canoe would meet a like resistance whether it tended 
to submerge the balance beam or lift it from the water). 
The outriggers are curved as in the figure, arid made 
of natural growth as a bamboo pole. They should pos- 
sess a certain spring. It is noteworthy that the curve 
of the outriggers is such that when the cartoe rests up- 
right' on a plane surface (in trim) the balance beam just 
touches the surface, and also that what might be called 
the horizontal plane of the beam is not, when thus in situ, 
in correspondence with a horizontal (waterline) plane 
of the canoe, but that it inclines away from the water- 
