Page:History of the Indian Archipelago Vol 3.djvu/193

 ASIATIC NATIONS. 177 not exceeding three inches in length. * The use made of it by the Chinese mariner is as awkward as the instrument is rude. The direction of the port he is steering for from the one he leaves being once ascertained, the vessel's head, making no al- lowances for the winds, currents, or circumstances of the navigation, is constantly kept towards it. This is, however, less preposterous than it seems at first sight, when we recollect that voyages are never undertaken but with the favourable monsoon, nor, indeed, but for the monsoons, could so distant an intercourse ever have taken place between nations so unskilful and so barbarous. The voyage from the port of Amoy to Batavia, under the most favour- able circumstances, takes from twenty to twenty- five days ; and, of course, one voyage ayear only can be performed. With all the unskilfulness of their management, I do not imagine, however, that many of the Chinese junks are shipwrecked. This is owing to the facility and security afforded by the monsoons, which are so well known to the Chinese pilots, that they avoid the tempestuous and dangerous periods of them. I remember but one example of a junk being lost, during between five and six years that I resided in Java, and of this one all the crew and some of the cargo was saved. A well- constructed and well-navigated English or Anglo- • Barron', Staunton, and Du Halde. VOL. III. U