Page:History of merchant shipping and ancient commerce (Volume 1).djvu/679

 "The disposition of rowlocks would thus be, for a set:—

I cannot find any other way in which to avoid collisions.

"The oars are 9 feet, 13 feet, 18 feet, 24 feet 6 inches, and 35 feet. The long oars have handles thus:—

and feather in reverse, by the pusher dropping his hands, and so helping to recover the puller.

"Any two of these oars might be pulled in time with that next above or below it without much inconvenience, but the loss of power in thus working 1 and 5 would be enormous.

"Let 5 and 4 pull together to beat of drum; four strokes and returns to eight beats—

"Let 3 pull two strokes and returns—

"Let 2 keep time with 3, the men advancing and retreating two steps.

"Let 1 take four steps forward in the two bars, and return in the same time.

"Thus all commence the stroke together; 2 and 3 renew the impulse at the bar; 4 and 5 do the same at half-bar.

"The beat of drum would be accented thus:—

"Thus all would work together, and each man have the beginning of his stroke marked.

"There might be also a deck or gangway on each side for the protection of the men from sun and rain.