MALTA AND SICILY. 
85 
stems and stern-posts standing up about a 
loot and a half above the gunwale. These 
are a great assistance in getting in or out, 
especially in rough weather. The boats are 
kept very clean and neat. They are gene¬ 
rally rowed by two men, one standing with 
his face towards the head, the other sitting 
in the bow, and rising from his seat at every 
stroke; sometimes, however, they both stand. 
A rudder is seldom used except when carry¬ 
ing sail, but in the harbours they generally 
depend on their oars. These are very heavy 
and clumsy, and are attached to the gun¬ 
wale by means of a single wooden pin and a 
loop of rope, so that they may be left in 
their places without any danger of their 
slipping overboard. Besides these boats 
there are some much larger, partly decked, 
which ply between Malta, the neighbouring 
island of Goza, and Sicily. 
