^ Methoi cf Weighing Anchoi% 
motion that some of the natives were actually carried round 
along with it, but happily no one was hurt. 
The method above described for weighing anchors, though a 
•rude one, is nevertheless founded on good principles, and in the 
hands of an intelligent seaman, might perhaps be simplified and 
perhaps rendered practically useful. A prejudice, however, pre- 
vails too generally at sea against every new operation of seaman- 
ship ; and this is the more unfortunate, since all experience shows 
the importance of adding to the number of those resources 
which, from the various nature of the services on which he may 
be employed, and the unforeseen accidents to which he is li- 
able, the practical seaman stands so perpetually in need. It 
is true that the expedients in common use for raising an- 
chors are numerous ; but a case may easily be conceived in 
which none of these methods will answer the purpose ; and the 
anchor, as is frequently the case, must be abandoned. On such 
an occasion, the foregoing mode, or some modification of it, 
might be resorted to, in order to avoid such an alternative. 
It would be easy to counteract the tendency which the spar 
has to turn back again, after the anchor is lifted off the ground, 
by having two buoy-ropes instead of one, and passing them 
round the spar in opposite ways. It is clear that, when the spar 
was made to turn by the action of the men falling down, one of 
these ropes would become slackened ; but, at the end of each 
puli, or quarter turn, this slackened rope might be drawn tight, 
and then the whole strain exerted by the men might be re- 
moved with safety ; since the anchor would now hang by two 
ropes, wound round in opposite directions, and would, therefore, 
have no more tendency, by its weight, to turn the spar one 
way, than the other. Practically too, this would be service- 
able in other respects, as it would enable the whole number 
of men to be employed at each pull, instead of one-half : and 
where there is the least swell, it is obvious that some contrivance 
of this kind is indispensable. 
It may be objected to this method, that it can only be put in 
practice where a set of amphibious workmen, like those above 
described, are to be found. But it would not be difficult to 
form a water windlas, which should be worked by men in boats. 
In constructing the raft round which the buoy-rope is to pass^ 
