Page:History of merchant shipping and ancient commerce (Volume 1).djvu/184

 SMALL JUNK. PARO.



remarkable similitude between these and the ancient boats of Britain. "The boats," he says, "commonly in use among them, consist of five planks only, joined together without ribs or timber of any kind. These planks are bent to the proper shape by being exposed some time to a flame of fire. They are brought to a line at each end, and the edges are joined together with wooden pins, and stitched with bamboo split into flexible threads, and the seams afterwards smeared with a paste made with quick-*lime from sea-shells and water. Others are made of wicker-work, smeared all over, and rendered water-*tight, by the same composition as is used for the former. The owners affect to paint eyes upon the heads of all these boats, as if to denote the vigilance requisite in the conduct of them. They are remarkable for standing the sudden shock of violent waves, as well as for being stiff upon the water, and sailing expeditiously. The boat belonging to the chief of