Page:A voyage to New Holland - Dampier.djvu/57

Rh and makes them run off into the Sea on each side. To keep the Boat thus with the Head to the Shore, and the Stern to the Sea, there are two strong Stantions set up in the Boat; the one at the Head, the other in the middle of it, against the Bulk-head, and a Foot higher than the Bulk-head. There is a large Notch cut in the top of each of these Stantions big enough for a small Hazer or Rope to lie in; one end of which is fasten'd to a Post ashore, and the other to a Grapling or Anchor lying a pretty way off at Sea: This Rope serveth to hale the Boat in and out, and the Stantions serve to keep her fast, so that she cannot swing to either side when the Rope is hal'd tight: For the Sea would else fill her, or toss her ashore and stave her. The better to prevent her staving and to keep her the tighter together, there are two sets of Ropes more: The first going athwart from Gunnal to Gunnal, which, when the Rowers Benches are laid, bind the Boats sides so hard against the Ends of the Benches that they cannot easily fall asunder, while the Benches and Ropes mutually help each other; the Ropes keeping the Boats sides from flying off, and the Benches from being crush'd together inwards. Of these Ropes there are usually but two, dividing the Boats length, as they go across the Sides, into there equal