10 
VESSELS OF THE NEGROES. 
do not unite closely^ and large interstices are left in this first 
joining. The seams are then caulked over with bruised straw, 
reduced to a sort of oakum, and mixed with a soft kind of clay, 
found in the morasses and on the banks of the river. The 
interstices thus filled up, the seams are closely covered with 
fresh straw, and the whole is strongly fastened by a second 
joining; this renders the canoe sufficiently solid for the 
purpose of navigating the river. At the bottom, wooden 
bars are laid at certain distances to consolidate the whole 
mass ; and similar bars are placed higher up, for supporting 
the deck. The hull being finished, it is covered over with 
small pieces of flexible wood, bent in a convex form, across 
which, other pieces of smaller size are fixed. This forms the 
deck, which is raised three feet and a half above the sides, 
and covered over with mats, made in the country from the 
leaves of the ronnier. The lightest merchandise is placed on 
the deck, or orlop, and is firmly lashed to the gunwales of the 
vessel, forming a sort of barrier, not very high, but sufficiently 
so to prevent the slaves, who sleep on deck, from rolling into 
the water. The vessel is loaded to the height of two feet and 
a half or three feet above the deck, even on the prow. 
As they are unacquainted with the use of pumps, they 
leave in the middle of the canoe an open space, where two 
men are constantly stationed, and whose business it is to bale 
out the water which makes its way through the seams of the 
vessel. In spite of the quickness with which they work, the 
water on board is never less than half a foot deep. These 
men keep watch as in our European ships, and they are 
relieved every six hours. They use large calabashes to bale 
the vessel. I observed that this part of the canoe is always 
covered with moss of a fine green colour. This is also the 
place where the women kindle fires to cook the victuals of the 
crew; for which purpose they provide themselves with 
portable earthenware stoves. These stoves are in the form 
of chaffing-dishes, round and open, and are composed of 
